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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

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http://www.archive.org/details/celebrationofone1901bost 


CELEBRATION 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND 
TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY 


EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON 


BRITISH  AMY,  MARCH  17,  1901 


Note.  — march  17  falling  on  Sunday  the  celebration  was 
on  monday,  march  18 


Printed  by  Order  of  the  City  Council  - 


BOSTON 

MUNICIPAL    PRINTING    OFFICE 

1901 

CBttsTAiUT  HILL,  MASS, 


5875 


MAYOR    THOMAS    N.    HART. 


CITY   OF   BOSTON. 


In  Common  Council,  March  28,  1901. 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  of  Committees,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Committee  on  Printing,  be  instructed  to  prepare  and 
cause  to  be  printed  and  bound  a  memorial  volume  containing 
the  addresses  of  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  Hon.  Charles  J.  Noyes, 
Hon.  George  F.  Hoar,  and  Hon.  Henry  F.  Naphen,  delivered 
on  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  of  the  125th  anniversary  of 
Evacuation  Day,  together  with  the  ode  by  Charles  P.  Ander- 
son, and  such  other  matter  as  may  be  deemed  expedient ;  the  ex- 
pense attending  the  same  to  be  charged  to  the  appropriation  for 
printing. 

Passed.     Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

DANIEL  J.  KILEY,  President. 


Concurred. 

A  true  copy. 

Attest : 


In  Board  of  Aldekmen,  April  1,  1901. 
JAMES  H.  DOYLE,  Chairman. 

EDWARD  J.  DONOVAN,  City  Cleric. 


EVACUATION  DAT. 


PBELIMINAEY  AEEANGEMENTS. 


ALDERMAN    JOSEPH    J.    NORTON, 
Evacuation   Day   Committee. 


PRELIMINARY  ARRANGEMENTS. 


The  celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British  army  was 
held  in  accordance  with  action  of  the  city  government  as  fol- 
lows: 

CITY    GOVERNMENT    ORDERS. 
January  31. 

Councilman  J.  Frank  OTIare  of  Ward  14  offered  an  order,  — 
That  the  Committee  on  Appropriations  be  requested  to  include 
in  the  appropriation  bill  the  sum  of  $10,000  for  the  celebration 
on  March  18th  next,  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  the  Evacuation  of  Boston. 

Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Appropriations. 

Councilman  also  offered  an  order,  —  That  His  Honor  the 
Mayor  be  requested  to  communicate  with  the  Secretary  of  War 
and  ask  that  he  may  detail  some  warships  to  Boston  Harbor  to 
take  part  in  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary  of  Evacuation  Day,  March  18. 

Passed.     Sent  up.     Concurred,  February  4. 

February  7. 

Councilman  Lawrence  J.  Kelly  of  Ward  13  offered  an  order,  — 
That  a  committee  of  ten  members  of  the  Common  Council  with 
such  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  as  may  be  joined  be  appointed, 
to  make  up  and  take  charge  of  a  programme  on  the  occasion  of 
the  celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
of  the  Evacuation  of  Boston,  March  18. 

Passed.     Sent  up.     Concurred,  February  11. 

February  25. 

Alderman  M.  W.  Norris  offered  an  order,  — ■  That  His  Honor 
the  Mayor  be  requested  to  instruct  the  heads  of  Departments  to 


8  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

grant  a  holiday,  without  loss  of  pay,  on  Monday,  March  18,  1901, 
Evacuation  Day,  to  all  employees  whose  services  can  be  dis- 
pensed with,  without  loss  of  pay,  in  part  compensation  for  their 
services. 

Passed.     Sent  down.     Concurred,  February  28. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  orders  the  Committee  on  Ap- 
propriations reported  in  the  annual  appropriation  bdl  the  sum 
of  seven  thousand  dollars  for  the  celebration,  and  the  following 
committee  was  appointed : 

Aldermen.  —  Joseph  J.  Norton,  Chairman,  Michael  W.  Nor- 
ris,  Patrick  Bowen,  George  R.  Miller,  Joseph  I.  Stewart. 

Councilmen.  —  Lawrence  J.  Kelly,  John  E.  L.  Monaghan, 
Andrew  L.  O'Toole,  J.  Frank  O'Hare,  John  J.  Teevens,  jr., 
Patrick  J.  Shiels,  William  L.  White,  William  E.  Hickey,  James 
M.  Lane,  Hugh  Young. 

After  a  number  of  meetings  the  committee  decided  that  the 
most  effective  way  of  observing  the  day  was  by  the  distribution 
to  the  school  children  throughout  the  whole  city  of  souvenir 
medals,  and  a  parade  and  local  celebration  in  South  Boston, 
whose  citizens  claimed  a  particular  interest  in  the  day,  as  being 
the  district  in  which  was  located  Dorchester  Heights,  the  site 
of  the  fortifications  which  compelled  the  evacuation. 

This  program  was  approved  by  the  Mayor,  and  accordingly 
one  hundred  thousand  medals,  the  reverse  being  a  copy  of  the 
medal  presented  by  Congress  to  General  Washington  on  the 
Evacuation  of  Boston,  and  the  obverse  containing  a  wreath  and 
the  inscription  "Souvenir  125th  Anniversary  Evacuation  Day, 
Boston,  Mass,  1901,"  were  distributed  to  all  the  school  children 
in  the  City  of  Boston,  and  to  many  older  persons  who  desired 
them  as  a  memento  of  the  occasion. 

The  local  celebration  consisted  of  a  parade,  illumination  of 
the  principal  streets  in  South  Boston,  artillery  salute  on  Dor- 
chester Heights,  athletic  games  on  M-street  playground,  and  a 
band  concert  and  fireworks  display  at  Marine  park. 

SCHOOL    EXERCISES. 

On  February  25,  Alderman  M.  W.  Norris  offered  an  order, 
That  the  School  Committee,  through  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  be 
requested  to  cause  the  regular  sessions  of  the  public  schools  to 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON.         9 

be  suspended  on   Monday,   March    L8,   1901,  and  thai  exercises 
commemorative  of    Evacuation    Day  be  held  in  the  schools  in 

place  of  same. 

Passed.     Sent  down.     Concurred,  February  28. 

In  reply  (<>  this  order  the  following  was  received  : 

M  Avon's  Of  kick, 
Boston,  Mass.,  21  Marcn,  1901. 

To  the  Honorable  the  City  Council : 

Gentlemen,  —  Enclosed  is  a  communication  from  the  School 
Committee  in  answer  to  your  Order  asking  that  exercises  com- 
memorative of  Evacuation  Day  be  held  in  the  public  schools. 

Respectfully, 

Thomas  N.  Hart, 

Mayor. 

City  of  Boston, 
In  School  Committee,  March  12,  1901. 

Ordered,  That  the  City  Council  be  respectfully  informed, 
through  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  that,  in  accordance  with  its  re- 
quest, the  afternoon  sessions  of  all  the  public  schools  will  be 
suspended  on  March  18,  1901,  and  that  exercises  commemora- 
tive of  Evacuation  Day  will  be  held  in  said  schools  during  the 
final  hour  of  the  morning  session. 
Passed. 

A  true  copy.     Attest : 

Thornton  D.  Apollonio, 

Secretary. 

As  stated  in  the  communication  from  the  School  Committee 
the  afternoon  session  of  the  schools  was  suspended,  and  patriotic 
exercises  were  held  in  all  the  schools  of  the  city  during  the  final 
hour  of  the  morning  session,  at  which  time  the  pupils  were 
presented  with  the  city  government  medals. 


THE  PEOCESSION. 


MAJOR    GEORGE    F.    H.    MURRAY, 

Ninth   Regiment,    M.V.M., 
Chief  Marshal    Evacuation   Day   Procession, 


THE  PROCESSION. 


The  presence  in  the  harbor  of  the  U.S.S.  "  Hartford  "  and 
the  U.S.S.  "  Lancaster  "  afforded  the  committee  an  opportunity 
of  adding  interest  to  the  parade,  through  the  courtesy  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  by  obtaining  the  presence  of  four  com- 
panies of  blue-jackets  from  each  of  the  ships,  accompanied  by 
their  bands  ;  and  also  a  battalion  of  marines  from  the  Navy 
Yard,  with  the  Marine  Band. 

The  parade  started  promptly  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
and  proceeded  over  the  following  route : 

ROUTE. 

Forming  at  Marine  Park,  East  Broadway  to  G  street,  G  street 
to  Thomas  park,  Thomas  park  to  G  street,  G  street  to  East 
Broadway,  East  Broadway  to  West  Broadway,  West  Broadway 
to  Broadway  Extension,  Broadway  Extension  to  Washington 
street,  Washington  street  to  Eliot  street,  Eliot  street  to  Park 
square,  Park  square  to  Charles  street,  Charles  street  to  Beacon 
street,  Beacon  street  to  School  street,  School  street  to  Washing- 
ton street,  Washington  street  to  Adams  square. 

CHIEF    MARSHAL    AND    STAFF. 

Chief  Marshal.  —  Major  George  F.  H.  Murray,  9th  Regiment. 
Chief  of  Staff.  —  Captain  William  J.  Casey,  9th  Regiment. 
Staff.  —  Colonel  J.  Payson  Bradley,  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery. 

Colonel  James  Sullivan,  Union  Veterans  Union. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Devine,  2d  Brigade 
Staff. 

Major  John  J.  Sullivan,  9th  Regiment. 

Major  Joseph  J.  Kelley,  9th  Regiment. 

Major  John  P.  Lombard,  9th  Regiment. 

Captain  John  Farley,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Captain  Frank  K.  Neal,  National  Lancers. 


14         ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

Captain  Thomas   F.  Clark,  Legion    of    Spanish    War 

Veterans. 
Lieutenant  Joseph  J.  Foley,  9th  Regiment. 
Lieutenant  George  Proctor,  National  Lancers. 
Sergeant  Major  George  H.  Russell,  1st  Heavy  Artillery. 
Sergeant  George  H.  Nee,  21st  United  States  Infantry. 
Milton  C.  Paige,  Amoskeag  Veterans. 
Thomas  W.  Flood,  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery. 
Orderly  Michael  C.  Novak,  9th  Regiment. 

FORMATION. 

Mounted  Police  under  command  of  Sergeant  Stone. 
Municipal  hand,  20  pieces. 

Company  of  7th  United  States  Artillery  from  Fort  Warren, 
2d  Lieutenant  Clifford  C.  Carson  in  command,  acting  as 
escort  to  the  chief  marshal  —  45  men. 

Coast  Artillery  — 10  men. 

CHIEF    MARSHAL    AND    STAFF. 

Chief  Marshal.  —  Major  George  F.  H.  Murray,  9th  Regiment. 
Chief  of  Staff.  —  Captain   William   J.    Casey,  9th   Regiment. 

Staff.  —  Colonel  J.    Payson  Bradley,  Ancient  and   Honorable 

Artillery. 
Colonel  James  Sullivan,  Union  Veterans  Union. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Devine,   2d    Brigade 

Staff. 
Major  John  J.  Sullivan,  9th  Regiment. 
Major  Joseph  J.  Kelley,  9th  Regiment. 
Major  John  P.  Lombard,  9th  Regiment. 
Captain  John  Farley,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
Captain  Frank  K.  Neal,  National  Lancers. 
Captain    Thomas   F.  Clark,  Legion    of    Spanish  War 

Veterans. 
Lieutenant  Joseph  J.  Foley,  9th  Regiment. 
Lieutenant  George  Proctor,  National  Lancers. 
Sergeant  Major  George  H.  Russell,  1st  Heavy  Artillery. 
Sergeant  George  H.  Nee,  21st  United  States  Infantry. 
Milton  C.  Paige,  Amoskeag  Veterans. 
Thomas  W.  Flood,  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery. 
Orderly  Michael  C.  Novak,  9th  Regiment. 


ANNIVERSARY   OF  THE  EVACUATION   OF    BOSTON.       1  •"> 

United  States  Marine  Hand,  Drum  Major  Kami —  25  pieces. 

Battalion  of  United  States  Marines,  three  companies,  Capt.  Dion 

C.Williams,  acting  major;   Lieutenant   Colvocorosses,  Ad- 
jutant  and  Lieutenants   Wadleigh,  Udell,  Manwaring  and 

Herbert  in  command  of  the  companies —  125  men. 

U.S.S.  "Hartford"  Band  — 25  men. 

Battalion    from    U.S.S.   "Hartford,"    Lieutenant    Commander 

Alexander  Sharp,  Jr.,  in  command  of  four 

companies— 250  men. 

U.S.S.  "Lancaster"  Band  —  20  men. 

Battalion     from     U.S.S.   "Lancaster,"  Lieutenant  Commander 

William  F.  Fullam  in  command  of  four 

companies  —  250  men. 

Lieut.  Col.  Lawrence  J.  Logan  in  command  of  six  companies  of 
the  Ninth  Regiment  —  350  men. 

Staff,  Lieut.  Benjamin  J.  Flanigan,  Chaplain  James  Lee,  Lieut. 

Jeremiah  A.  Cronin,  assistant  surgeon. 

Ninth  Regiment  Band  —  40  pieces. 

1st  Battalion  under  command  of  Capt.  John  J.  Hayes,  Co.  H, 

acting  major. 
Co.  A,  1st  Lieut.  George  M.  Rogers. 
2d  Lieut.  Timothy  J.  Sullivan. 

Co.  B,  Capt.  James  F.  Walsh. 

1st  Lieut.  John  J.  Hickey. 
2d  Lieut.  James  A.  Guthrie. 

Co.  E,  Capt.  John  J.  Barry. 

1st  Lieut.  Daniel  P.  Sullivan. 
2d  Lieut.  Cornelius  J.  Murphy. 

Co.  H,  1st  Lieut.  Patrick  H.  Sullivan. 

3d   Battalion,   under  command    of    Capt.   Thomas  F.   Quinlan, 
Co.  C,  acting  major. 

Co.  C,  1st  Lieut.  Henry  Crane. 

2d  Lieut.  Maurice  E.  Bowlan. 

Co.  I,  Capt.  James  A.  Cully. 

1st  Lieut.  John  F.  Delaney. 
2d  Lieut.  John  F.  Mclnnis. 


16         ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

Co.  D,  Naval  Brigade,  Ensign  Everett  W.  Scott  commanding  — 

100  men. 

St.  Augustine  Band  —  25  pieces. 

Washington  Post,  No.  32,  G.A.R.,  Commander  John  Mahoney — 

60  men. 

Dahlgren  Post,  No.  2,  G.A.R.,  Commander  Frank  Wilkinson  — 

45  men. 

Gettysburg  Command,   Union   Veterans'  Union,  Colonel  King 
commanding  —  35  men. 

Major  M.  J.  O'Connor  Camp,  No.  4,  Legion  of   Spanish  War 

Veterans,  Senior  Vice  Commander  Lorenzo  B. 

Crowley  commanding  —  60  men. 

1st  Carriage,  Governor  W.  Murray  Crane. 
Mayor  Thomas  N.  Hart. 
Admiral  William  T.  Sampson. 
Alderman  Joseph  J.  Norton. 

2d  Carriage,  Lieutenant  Governor  John  L.  Bates. 
Congressman  Henry  F.  Naphen. 
Adjutant  General  Samuel  Dalton. 
Alderman  Michael  W.  Norris. 

3d  Carriage,  President  R.  A.  Soule  of  State  Senate. 
Speaker  J.  J.  Myers  of  Legislature, 
Commander  H.  B.  Mansfield,  U.S.S.  "  Lancaster." 
Alderman  George  R.  Miller. 

4th  Carriage,  Councillor  J.  J.  McNamara. 

Congressman  Joseph  A.  Conry. 

Commander  J.  M.  Hawley,  U.S.S.  "  Hartford." 

Alderman  Patrick  Bowen. 

5th  Carriage,  Lieutenant  Whittlesey,  U.S.S.  "  Lancaster." 
Alderman  Joseph  I.  Stewart. 
Councilman  J.  Frank  O'Hare. 
Councilman  John  J.  Teevens,  jr. 

6th  Carriage,  Lieutenant  Rohrbacher,  U.S.S.  "  Hartford." 
Paymaster  Merritt,  U.S.S.  "Hartford." 
Councilman  William  L.  White. 
Councilman  Hugh  Young. 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON.      17 

7th  Carriage,  Sergeanl  Parker,  II.S.S.  "Hartford." 

Past  Commander  Thomas  Ryan,  Post  -'>2,  6.A.R. 
Councilman  l>.  J.  Kelly. 
Councilman  .1.  K.  L.  Monaghan. 

8th  Carriage,  Councilman  P.  J.  Shiels. 

Councilman  W.  E.  Ilickey. 
Councilman  J.  M.  Lane. 

9th  Carriage,  Senator  James  B.  Clancy. 
Councilman  A.  L.  O'Toole. 
Street  Commissioner  James  A.  Gallivan. 

10th  Carriage,  Hon.  John  B.  Martin, 

President  John  H.  Means, 

Secretary  Edward  J.  Powers, 

Treasurer  David  L.  White, 

Committee  of  South  Boston  Citizens'  Association. 

11th  Carriage,  Sergeant  Arthur  Kelly, 
J.  J.  Clark, 

Representatives  of  Legion  of  Spanish  War  Vet- 
erans. 

12th  Carriage,  City  Messenger  Edward  J.  Leary. 

E.  P.  Barry,  Editor  South  Boston  "  Inquirer." 

At  Adams  square  Governor  Crane,  Mayor  Hart,  the  members 
of  the  city  government  committee,  Lieutenant-Governor  Bates, 
the  officers  from  the  war-ships,  and  the  other  invited  guests 
reviewed  the  parade. 

The  decorations  on  the  line  of  march,  especially  in  South 
Boston,  were  notably  fine.  Nearly  every  private  residence  and 
store  was  gay  with  bunting,  and  all  the  city  buildings  were  fes- 
tooned with  colors. 

In  the  evening,  Battery  A,  Light  Artillery,  fired  a  salute  on 
Dorchester  Heights. 


THE  BANQUET. 


COMMITTEE  OF  THE   SOUTH    BOSTON   CITIZENS'    ASSOCIATION, 
EVACUATION     DAY    CELEBRATION. 


JOHN   H.  MEANS, 
President   South   Boston   Citizens'   Association. 


EDWARD  J.   POWERS, 
Secretary  South   Boston  Citizens'  Association. 


HON.  JOHN    B.    MARTIN, 
Toastmaster  ;    Banquet,   Gray's   Hall. 


THE  BANQUET. 


A  prominent  feature  of  the  celebration  of  Evacuation  Day 
was  the  reception  and  banquet,  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
South  Boston  Citizens'  Association  in  Gray's  Hall,  South  Boston. 
The  reception  lasted  from  seven  o'clock  to  eight,  during  which 
time  the  members  of  the  association  and  guests  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  meeting  the  distinguished  personages  who  were  pres- 
ent on  the  occasion.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  banquet  the 
exercises  were  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Albert  E. 
George,  rector  of  St.  Matthew's  Episcopal  Church. 

PRAYER   BY   REV.    ALBERT   E.    GEORGE. 

0,  Almighty  God,  for  these  blessings  which  we  are 
about  to  receive,  make  us  ever  thankful,  and  keep  us 
under  thy  merciful  guidance.  Give  us  grace  to  lay  to 
heart  the  great  gifts  and  privileges  which  thou  hast 
honored  us  with  in  this  republic  of  liberty,  which  our 
national  history  sets  forth. 

We  thank  thee,  Father,  for  the  cherished  memories 
of  this  occasion,  binding  our  hearts  to  the  years  gone 
before,  marked  with  the  records  of  many  useful  lives, 
for  the  deeds  of  self-sacrifice,  the  devotion,  and  manly 
characters  that  have  held  our  minds  in  reverence  so 
long.  Make  us  worthy  imitators  of  their  virtues,  and 
consecrate  us  anew  to  the  service  of  ministering  to  the 
best  needs  of  humanity. ,  Let  us  feel  thy  guiding  hand, 
and  listen  for  thy  voice,  that  the  paths  of  peace  and 
prosperity  may  be  ours,  and  our  national  pride  through 


22  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

the  years  that  are  to  come.  We  ask  these  blessings 
through  Him,  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  prayer  President  John  H.  Means  of 
the  association  said : 

PRESIDENT   MEANS'   ADDRESS. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  We  are  gathered  here  this 
evening  to  celebrate  the  125th  anniversary  of  the 
evacuation  of  Boston.  I  am  proud  of  our  people  to- 
night. Being  a  native  of  South  Boston,  whose  ances- 
tors took  an  active  part  at  that  time,  it  gives  me 
greater  pleasure  than  it  perhaps  otherwise  would  to 
welcome  this  assembly,  whose  numbers  are  only  limited 
by  the  size  of  the  hall. 

This  has  been  a  great  day  for  South  Boston.  The 
celebration  should  be  long  remembered,  and  the  Wash- 
ington medals,  which  have  been  distributed  by  the  city, 
will  be  mementoes  for  years  to  come. 

I  have  a  letter  which  will  interest  you  at  this  time, 
an  original  letter,  written  and  signed  by  George  Wash- 
ington, which  I  will  read  : 

Cambridge,  2d  March,  1776. 

Sir :  After  weighing  all  circumstances  of  Tide,  &c,  and  con- 
sidering the  hazard  of  haveing  the  posts  on  Dorchester  Neck 
taken  by  the  enemy  &  the  evil  consequences  which  would  re- 
sult from  it,  the  Gentlemen  here  are  of  opinion  that  we  should 
go  there  Monday  night.  I  give  you  this  early  notice  of  it  that 
you  may  delay  no  time  in  preparing  for  it,  as  everything  here 
will  be  in  readiness  to  cooperate.  In  haste,  Your  Most  Obedt 
Servt, 

G'O   WASHINGTON. 

Saturday  Evening. 

To  Maj.-Gen.  Ward,  Roxbury. 

Remember  Barrels. 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OP  BOSTON.      23 

I  am  sure  you  will  be  interested  and  your  blood 
warmed  when  our  honored  guests  tell  .you  of  the  event 
which  we  are  celebrating.  I  now  take  great  pleasure 
in  introducing  as  presiding  officer  for  the  evening,  one 
who  stands  high  in  the  regard  of  this  association,  a 
thoroughly  patriotic  American,  our  ex-president,  the 
Hon.  John  B.  Martin. 

Toastmaster  Martin  then  arose  and  thanked  the  association 
for  the  honor  conferred  upon  him,  saying  that  it  was  an  excep- 
tional honor  to  preside  at  an  occasion  of  this  kind. 

JOHN   B.   MARTIN. 

A  people  governed  without  their  consent  are  not 
governed  at  all.  Coerced  into  obedience  by  superior 
physical  force,  the  result  is  inevitable  ;  disregard  of 
official  authority  and  finally  open  rebellion. 
,  England,  disregarding  the  advice  of  her  ablest  states- 
men, imposed  upon  the  colonies  in  America  unjust 
laws  to  which  they  would  not  submit  ;  nor  would  she 
listen  to  their  plea  for  moderation.  With  a  determina- 
tion to  be  free  men  they  began  "the  battle  for  human 
liberty  and  the  rights  of  free  government  for  and  by 
themselves. 

Thus  we  find  them  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  to-night  we  are  here  to  commemorate  one 
of  the  most  important  events  in  that  great  struggle  — 
the  driving  forever  from  Boston  of  the  British  troops  by 
that  small  band  of  patriots  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Washington. 

We  are  indeed  fortunate  that  the  celebration  is  held 
here  on  the  Heights  where  were  encamped  the  patriots 
who,  by  masterly  strategy,  drove  Lord  Howe,  with  his 
fleet  of  transports,  his  soldiers  and  the  Tory  residents 


24         ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

of  Boston  out  of  the  city  to  more  congenial  climes, 
never  to  return.  This  is  hallowed  ground.  Here  on 
one  of  its  hills  stands,  to  teach  the  youth  and  impress 
the  older  generation,  that  noble  edifice,  one  of  the  best 
results  of  Christian  freedom,  our  High  School,  open  and 
free  to  all. 

This  grand  country,  rich  in  all  that  is  good,  free  as 
the  ocean  breeze,  is  our  heritage,  an  inspiration  to  love 
liberty  and  extend  its  beneficial  influence  to  all  peoples. 

It  is  not  my  desire  to  detain  you  from  the  intellectual 
and  patriotic  treat  which  is  in  store  for  us,  and  take 
great  pleasure  in  extending  a  hearty  welcome  to  our 
guests,  and  presenting  as  the  first  speaker  one  who  is 
loved,  honored  and  respected  wherever  people  are  free 
or  wanting  to  be  free. 

He  then  introduced  United  States  Senator  George  Frisbie  Hoar. 
The  mention  of  the  senator's  name  brought  forth  a  tremendous 
ovation,  aud,  as  the  speaker  arose  to  address  the  assembled  con- 
course, all  arose  with  him  and  he  was  cheered  and  applauded 
until  he  stepped  forward  to  begin  his  address.     He  said  : 

SENATOR   GEORGE    FRISBIE    HOAR. 

We  meet  to  celebrate  a  great  transaction  —  one  of  the 
greatest  in  all  history.  The  expulsion  of  the  British 
army  from  Boston  has  never  had  the  notice  it  deserves 
from  historians  or  made  its  due  impression  on  the 
hearts  of  the  people.  Yet  its  lessons  have  been  read  to 
us  by  Edmund  Burke  in  one  hemisphere,  and  Nathaniel 
Hawthorne  in  another.  Burke  said  just  afterward  that 
' '  it  resembled  more  the  emigration  of  a  nation  than  the 
breaking  up  of  a  camp."  The  genius  of  Hawthorne 
never  reached  a  higher  plane  than  in  the  wonderful 
story  of   ' '  Howe's  Masquerade  in  the  Legends  of  the 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF   BOSTON.       25 

Province  House/'  when  he  summons  the  ghosts  of  tin- 
ancient  Governors  of  the  province  to  Conn  the  funeral 
procession  of  royal  authority  in  New  England. 

America  certainly  in  the  last  century  made  her  full 
and  nohle  contribution  to  the  literature  of  fiction.  Not 
to  speak  of  Cooper  and  Irving,  the  genius  of  the  author 
of  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  "  was  a  large  power  in  inspiring 
the  sentiment  that  abolished  slavery,  and  the  genius  of 
the  author  of  "The  Man  Without  a  Country  "  was  a 
large  inspiration  in  the  saving  of  the  Union.  But 
I  believe  each  would  yield  the  palm  to  Hawthorne. 


The  mighty  power  of  England,  you  will  remember, 
had  dwelt  here  more  than  150  years,  a  space  longer 
nearly  by  a  generation  than  the  duration  of  our  inde- 
pendence. We  were  British  subjects  for  145  years. 
We  have  been  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  but  112  years.  No  child  was  ever  more  certainly 
the  father  of  the  man  than  the  Massachusetts  of  the 
Puritan  and  the  Pilgrim  was  the  parent  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts of  the  nineteenth  century.  Other  blood  has 
mingled  with  the  stream  which  is  in  her  veins.  Other 
races  have  joined  her  children  and  sit  at  her  hospitable 
board.  New  conditions,  wealth  and  commerce,  and 
education  and  invention  have  had  their  influence. 
More  than  one-half  her  citizens  to-day  are  of  foreign 
birth   or   parentage. 

But  yet  I  delight  to  think  that  in  the  essential  qual- 
ities of  character  the  Massachusetts  of  the  Common- 
wealth is  the  Massachusetts  of  the  colony  and  the 
province.  But  still  the  single  event  in  her  history, 
from  the  settlement  to  this  hour  is  that  which  trans- 
formed her  people  from  subjects  to  citizens.     The  gov- 


26  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

eminent  of  England  was  in  the  main  a  gentle  govern- 
ment, much  as  our  fathers  complained  of  it.  But  it 
was  an  alien  government.  Her  yoke  was  easy,  and  her 
burden  was  light.  But  it  was  a  yoke  and  a  burden 
still.  On  the  18th  of  March,  1776,  royalty  went  down 
the  harbor,  and  freedom  came  in  from  the  country. 

I  will  not  undertake  to  tell  again  the  familiar  story. 
The  expulsion  of  Sir  William  Howe  with  his  veteran 
troops,  the  flower  of  the  British  army,  aided  by  the 
flower  of  the  British  navy,  by  an  inferior  force  of  un- 
disciplined militia,  is  one  of  the  audacities  of  military 
history. 

Washington,  as  you  know  well,  had  shut  the  British 
army  into  Boston  with  an  inferior  force.  Large  part  of 
it  went  out  of  service  during  the  season,  and  their 
places  were  taken  by  new  levies.  For  a  long  time  he 
had  no  powder.  The  soldiers  were  discontented  and 
threatening  to  go  home.  When  a  supply  of  powder 
was  obtained  by  capturing  a  British  ship  there  were 
left  but  seven  rounds  of  ammunition  to  a  man. 


On  the  other  hand,  Sir  William  Howe  assured  the 
British  ministry  Boston  seemed  impregnable.  The 
officers  spent  their  time  in  gayety,  with  music  and 
dancing  and  feasting,  without  a  thought  of  danger 
from  the  despised  force  across  the  river.  Provisions 
were  in  abundance,  and  communication  with  the  whole 
world  by  sea  was  open.  They  had  in  the  harbor  120 
transports,  well  provisioned,  besides  a  powerful  fleet  of 
men-of-war  with  3,000  seamen,  all  well  equipped  with 
ample  supplies  of  ammunition  and  cannon. 

Congress  was  spurring  Washington.  December  27, 
1775,  Washington,    according   to   Bancroft,  had   "not 


ANNIVERSARY   OF  TIIK  KVACHATKiN  OK   ISOSTON.       27 

half  as  many  serviceable  troops  as  the  army  he  be- 
sieged." Yet  on  that  day  Congress  authorized  him  to 
attack  Boston,  notwithstanding  the  town  might 
thereby  be  destroyed.  Washington  answered  :  "  It  is 
not,  perhaps,  in  the  pages  of  history  to  furnish  a  case 
like  ours  —  to  maintain  a  post  within  musket  shot  of 
the  enemy  for  six  months  together,  without  powder, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  disband  one  army  and  recruit 
another  within  that  distance  of  twenty  odd  British 
regiments  is  more,  probably,  than  ever  was  attempted." 
In  February  Washington  had  completed  the  reor- 
ganization of  his  army,  and  had  got  100  barrels  of 
powder  in  reserve. 

There  were  difficulties  enough  left.  The  besieged 
were  stronger  in  effective  force  than  the  besiegers. 
They  were  in  a  town  accessible  by  land  only  by  a 
narrow  neck,  easily  defended.  The  cautious  and  de- 
liberate Washington  had  audacity  enough  when 
audacity  was  not  insanity.  His  plan  was  to  build  in- 
trenchments  on  Dorchester  Heights  which  would  com- 
pel Howe  to  quit  the  town  or  attack  him,  and  if  such 
an  attack  were  made  then  to  take  the  British  in  the 
rear. 

I  shall  take  no  laurel  leaf  from  the  pure  chaplet  of 
Washington's  fame  if  I  give  due  honor  in  this  transac- 
tion to  a  son  of  Massachusetts  whose  great  military 
and  civil  service,  surpassed,  in  my  opinion,  by  those  of 
no  other  man,  save  Washington  and  Lincoln  alone, 
has  not  yet  received  its  due  credit  from  history.  I 
speak  of  Rufus  Putnam.  The  story  of  his  part  in  the 
expulsion  of  the  British  army  from  Boston,  in  the 
fortification  of  West  Point,  and  in  the  yet  larger  trans- 
action of  the  founding  of  Ohio,  has  only  lately  become 


28         ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

known  as  the  diaries  of  the  actors  in  those  transactions 
have  been  made  public.  I  am  but  telling  a  story  I 
have  told  once  or  twice  heretofore,  and  if  I  live  I  hope 
to  tell  it  more  than  once  or  twice  hereafter. 


Rufus  Putnam  was  a  millwright.  He  had  no  edu- 
cation in  his  youth  except  what  he  got  in  such 
moments  as  he  could  snatch  from  a  boyhood  of  hard 
work,  under  a  stepfather,  who  was  too  stingy  to 
allow  him  candles  for  study.  His  stepfather  kept  a 
tavern.  By  blacking  the  guests'  boots  he  got  a  few 
pennies  to  buy  powder  and  shot,  with  which  he  killed 
partridges  that  he  sold  to  buy  an  arithmetic. 

At  seventeen  he  was  bound  apprentice  to  a  mill- 
wright in  North  Brookfield.  His  new  master  was  kind 
and  generous,  and  the  lad  learned  his  business  well. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  old  French  war  and  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  a  Worcester  county  regiment  when  the 
Revolution  broke  out.  He  was  appointed,  against  his 
earnest  protest,  engineer,  to  take  charge  of  the  works 
about  Boston.  Washington  afterward  said  of  him,  he 
was  the  best  engineer  officer  in  the  army,  whether 
American  or  Frenchman. 

One  night  he  dined  with  Washington  at  headquarters 
in  Cambridge.  Washington  kept  him  after  the  rest 
had  gone,  and  confided  to  him  his  purpose.  But  the 
ground  was  frozen  solid  four  feet  deep,  and  it  seemed 
out  of  the  question  to  entrench  Dorchester  Heights. 
Washington  declared  his  purpose  to  make  the  attack 
at  all  risks,  whether  the  Heights  could  be  fortified  or 
not,  before  his  discouraged  army  should  scatter. 

Putnam  went  back  to  his  own  quarters,  near  Rox- 
bury,  at  midnight.     He  saw  a  light  as  he  passed  the 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON.      29 

quarters  of  General  Heath,  and  said  to  an  officer  who 
was  with  him,  "Let's  go  in  and  call  on  General 
Heath."  When  he  got  in,  he  saw  on  a  tahle  a  book, 
entitled  "  Muller's  Field  Engineering."  He  had  never 
seen  or  heard  of  such  a  hook  before.  He  asked 
General  Heatli  to  lend  it  to  him.  Heath  peremptorily 
refused,  and  said  he  never  lent  his  books.  Putnam 
pressed  him,  but  without  success,  until  at  last  he  said, 
' '  General  Heath,  you  were  one  of  the  men  who  a  few 
weeks  ago  compelled  me  against  my  will  to  undertake 
an  office  for  which  I  told  you  I  was  utterly  unfit,  and 
now  the  first  chance  I  have  to  get  any  information 
about  its  duties,  you  refuse  me."  Heath  yielded. 
Putnam  took  the  book  to  his  quarters.  Before  he 
went  to  bed  he  glanced  over  the  index.  His  eye 
caught  the  word  "chandelier,"  a  term  utterly  un- 
known to  him  in  the  art  of  military  engineering. 
Looking  at  the  page  he  found  that  a  chandelier  con- 
sisted of  four  logs  sawed  off  even,  so  as  to  stand 
upright,  joined  by  timbers  let  into  them,  like  the  posts 
of  an  old-fashioned  bedstead,  and  the  space  between 
the  sides  filled  in  with  bundles  of  fagots.  These  would 
serve  the  purpose  of  a  rude  defence  against  an  attack- 
ing force.  In  an  instant  Putnam  had  his  plans  ready. 
The  next  day  he  had  his  men  at  work,  gathering  the 
fascines  and  getting  the  posts  and  timbers  ready,  which 
could  be  drawn  to  Dorchester  Heights  by  a  road  behind 
the  hill,  without  attracting  observation  from  the 
enemy.  They  were  put  in  their  place  in  a  single 
night. 

When  the  sun  went  down  on  Boston  on  the  fourth 
of  March  Washington  was  at  Cambridge  and  Dor- 
chester Heights,  as  nature  or  the  husbandman  had  left 


30  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

them  in  the  autumn.  When  Sir  William  Howe 
rubbed  his  eyes  on  the  morning  of  the  fifth  he  saw, 
through  the  heavy  mist,  the  entrenchments,  on  which, 
he  said,  the  rebels  had  done  more  work  in  a  night  than 
his  whole  army  would  have  done  in  a  month.  He 
wrote  to  Lord  Dartmouth  that  it  must  have  been  the 
employment  of  at  least  twelve  thousand  men.  His 
own  effective  force,  including  seamen,  was  about 
eleven  thousand.  Washington  had  but  fourteen 
thousand  fit  for  duty.  "Some  of  our  officers,"  said 
the  Annual  Register  —  Edmund  Burke  was  the  writer — 
' '  acknowledged  that  the  expedition  with  which  these 
works  were  thrown  up,  with  their  sudden  and  unex- 
pected appearance,  recalled  to  their  minds  the  wonder- 
ful stories  of  enchantment  and  invisible  agency  which 
are  so  frequent  in  the  eastern  romances."  Howe  was  a 
man  of  spirit.  He  took  the  prompt  resolution  to 
attempt  to  dislodge  the  Americans  the  next  night, 
before  their  works  was  made  impregnable.  Earl 
Percy,  who  had  learned  something  of  Yankee  quality 
at  Bunker  Hill  and  Lexington,  was  to  command  the 
assault.  But  the  power  that  dispersed  the  Armada 
baffled  all  the  plans  of  the  British  general.  There 
came  "a  dreadful  storm  at  night,"  which  made  it 
impossible  to  cross  the  bay  until  the  American  works 
were  perfected. 

You  know  your  own  history.  You  heard  as 
children  the  mighty  deeds  ' '  which  God  performed  of 
old."  Without  a  guide  you  can  follow  Sir  William 
Howe  and  the  British  army  and  the  fleet  to  Halifax, 
to  New  York,  to  Philadelphia,  to  Yorktown  and  to 
England.  Let  me  ask  you  for  a  moment  to  follow 
Rufus  Putnam.     He  served  throughout  the  war.     He 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON.      .11 

was  a  brave  officer.  He  did  liis  duly  faithfully  and 
modestly,  to  the  satisfaction  <>f  Washington.  There 
were  others  more  conspicuous  at  the  time  —  Greene  and 
Gates  and  Israel  Putnam,  Marion  and  Sumter  and 
Schuyler  and  Arnold.  But  there  is  no  other,  man  of 
the  time,  save  Washington  alone  ;  there  is  no  other 
man  in  American  history,  save  only  Washington  and 
Lincoln,  to  whom  it  was  given  to  stand  by  the  cur- 
rent of  the  great  river  of  history  and  so  to  turn  that 
current  as  to  decide  the  fate  of  his  country  and  of 
liberty. 

But  for  Rufus  Putnam,  as  we  have  seen,  the  expul- 
sion of  the  power  of  England  from  Boston  would  have 
depended  on  the  success  of  an  attack  by  an  inferior 
and  undisciplined  army  on  a  strongly  intrenched  force 
protected  by  a  powerful  fleet.  If  Massachusetts, 
which  was  alike  the  brain  and  heart  of  the  Revolution, 
had  been  held  by  the  English  power,  who  is  bold 
enough  to  declare  that  the  Revolution  would  have 
succeeded,  that  Burgoyne  would  have  been  stayed  on 
his  way  to  New  York,  that  the  communication  be- 
tween North  and  South  could  have  been  kept  open, 
that  the  French  alliance  would  have  been  formed, 
that  the  courage  of  the  people  could  have  been  kept 
up  until  victory  ? 

The  next  important  event  in  Putnam's  life  is  the 
fortification  of  West  Point.  West  Point  was  to  the 
revolution  what  Vicksburg  was  to  the  rebellion.  It 
kept  open  the  communication  between  New  England 
and  the  South,  as  the  command  of  the  Mississippi  kept 
open  the  communication  between  the  East  and  the 
West.  It  was  the  very  heart  and  centre  of  the  life  and 
power  of  our  confederation. 


32  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

Rufus  Putnam's  great  work,  which  entitles  his  name 
to  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  very  greatest  in  the 
history  of  liberty,  is  the  foundation  of  Ohio  and  the 
saving  that  vast  territory  from  which  afterward  came 
five  mighty  States  to  freedom  forever. 

In  1783  he  had  in  his  hands  a  scheme  for  the  settle- 
ment of  Ohio  by  veteran  soldiers,  the  inexorable  condi- 
tion of  which  was  the  exclusion  of  slavery.  He  pressed 
that  scheme  upon  Washington  and  upon  Congress 
until,  in  the  spring  of  1788,  from  his  house,  now 
standing  in  Rutland,  he  issued  the  call  of  veteran 
soldiers  to  meet  in  Boston,  organized  the  company, 
was  chosen  its  superintendent  and  conducted  the  first 
settlers  down  the  Ohio  river  to  Marietta,  who  voted 
that  the  day  of  their  landing  should  forever  be 
celebrated  as  the  day  when  Rufus  Putnam  founded 
Ohio. 

The  action  of  that  one  man  saved  from  slavery  the 
five  great  States,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Indiana  and 
Wisconsin,  and  it  is  easy  to  show  that  but  for  him  the 
United  States  to-day  would  be  a  great  slave-holding 
empire. 


The  wife  of  Isaac  Davis  said,  when  her  husband  was 
brought  home  dead  from  Concord  bridge  on  the  19th 
of  April,  "His  countenance  was  pleasant,  and  seemed 
little  altered."  What  was  it  that  led  him  to  encounter 
death  with  a  pleasant  countenance  that  did  not  change  ? 
Warren  said  when  he  went  into  battle,  ' '  Dulce  et 
decorum  est  pro  patria  mori." 

What  was  it  that  made  it  sweet  and  pleasant  for 
Warren  to  die  for  his  country  ?  What  brought  George 
Washington,    that    prosperous   and   wealthy   Virginia 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OP  BOSTON.      33 

gentleman,  to  Boston?  What  brought  these  country 
farmers  from  peaceful  homes?  Was  it  good  govern- 
ment they  were  seeking?  They  had  the  best  govern- 
ment, I  suppose,  then  existing  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
The  yoke  of  Great  Britain  on  our  fathers'  necks  was 
easy,  and  her  burden  was  light.  Our  fathers  were  a 
hundred  times  better  off  in  1775  than  were  the  men  of 
Kent,  the  vanguard  of  liberty  in  England.  They  were 
a  thousand  times  better  off  than  Ireland  was  far  down 
within  living  memory.  There  was  more  happiness  in 
Middlesex  on  the  Concord  than  there  was  in  Middlesex 
on  the  Thames. 

But  our  fathers  felt  that,  whatever  other  conditions 
might  exist,  they  were  a  people.  For  that  they  fought 
and  for  that  they  were  ready  to  die.  They  held  that 
the  government  of  one  people  by  another  is  always  and 
under  all  circumstances  bad  government,  and  never 
can  be,  in  the  nature  of  things,  good  government. 
They  enjoyed  everything  that  enters  into  the  defini- 
tion of  liberty  but  one.  They  had  trial  by  jury ;  they 
had  magna  charta  and  habeas  corpus  ;  they  enjoyed  in 
general  the  ancient  rights  of  Englishmen  in  freedom 
and  in  honor ;  they  had  a  King,  the  object  of  their  will- 
ing allegiance. 

But  they  knew  that  there  was  no  liberty  where  taxa- 
tion exists  without  representation ;  where  one  people 
make  laws  for  another  people  to  obey,  and  that  there 
is,  in  the  nature  of  things,  no  liberty  without  independ- 
ence. It  was  for  that  they  fought.  It  was  for  that 
they  died  —  some  of  them. 

It  was  for  that  they  drove  England  out  of  Boston. 
The  evacuation  of  Boston  was  not  simply  that  one  flag 
went  down  and  another  flag  went  up  over  the  Province 


34         ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

House  and  the  Old  State  House  ;  that  soldiers  in  home- 
spun followed  down  to  the  wharves  other  soldiers 
in  red  coats.  On  the  18th  day  of  March,  1776,  repub- 
licanism, under  George  Washington,  drove  imperial- 
ism, under  Sir  William  Howe,  out  of  Boston,  never 
to  come  back.  And  that  is  the  lesson  of  this  anniver- 
sary. 

It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  say  that  this  conclusion  brought 
forth  great  applause,  which  continued  for  several  minutes  after 
the  speaker  had  become  seated. 

Toastmaster  Martin  then  introduced  the  Hon.  Charles  J. 
Noyes,  a  former  resident  of  South  Boston  and  associate  justice 
of  the  court.  He  was  warmly  received,  and  with  the  cessation 
of  applause  he  spoke  as  follows  : 

ADDRESS  OF  HON.  CHARLES  J.  NOYES. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  — I  sincerely 
thank  you  for  this  kind  manifestation.  I  can  hardly 
express  my  pleasure  at  meeting  so  many  old  friends 
and  one-time  neighbors,  at  seeing  these  co-workers 
in  your  splendid  association,  looking  into  so  many 
familiar  faces,  and  being  admitted  to  so  large  a  share 
in  the  services  of  this  hour. 

I  accepted  your  committee's  kind  and  courteous, 
though  somewhat  tardy,  invitation  with  gladness,  and 
now  rejoice  in  an  opportunity  to  help  commemorate 
such  momentous  events,  and  perpetuate  such  a  rich 
legacy  of  memories  as  we  celebrate ;  to  study  their 
lessons  and  profit  from  their  instruction  ;  to  aid  in 
the  greeting  to  those  who  honor  the  occasion  with 
their  presence,  and  especially  in  cordial  welcome  to 
him  who  brings  here  the  rarest  abilities,  the  ripest 
fruits  of  scholarship  and  experience,  a  renown  of 
family   name   greatly  enriched   by  his   own   generous 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON.       35 

contribution,  and  a  peerless  record  of  exalted  public 
service  in  which  he  stands  one  of  the  foremost  men 
of  his  time  in  any  land. 

The  hour  will  not  permit,  nor  does  my  inclination 
prompt  me  to  indulge  in  a  lengthy  recital  of  the 
events  which  make  up  the  siege  of  Boston.  Abler 
pens  and  lips  than  mine  have  often  repeated  the 
pathetic  and  inspiring  story.  In  the  brief  time  at 
my  command  I  shall  mainly  deal  with  the  incidents 
immediately  relating  to  the  evacuation. 

It  was  a  glorious  Sabbath  125  years  ago  yesterday 
to  the  citizens  of  old  Boston,  and  the  train  of  events 
which  culminated  in  that  triumph  taught  Boastful 
Britain  her  Puritan  colonists  were  not  mere  pedlers 
seeking  commercial  venture  beyond  the  sea,  but 
children  worthy  her  loins,  and  capable  as  she  of 
self-government . 

Let  us  take  a  pen-picture  of  the  old  town  during 
those  eventful  days.  It  occupied  a  pear-shaped  penin- 
sula less  than  two  miles  in  extreme  length  and  a  trifle 
over  one  mile  wide  at  its  greatest  breadth,  attached  to 
the  mainland  by  a  neck  so  narrow  and  marshy  as  to  be 
often  submerged  by  the  tide ;  bordered  by  a  sluggish 
river  and  shallow  bay  on  either  side,  and  in  front  by 
the  irregular  harbor  studded  with  beautiful  emerald 
gems  and  stretching  to  the  open  ocean  ten  miles  away. 
Its  mural  throne,  which  gave  it  name  and.  rendered  it 
conspicuously  visible,  was  surface  of  bold  undulations 
and  sharp  declivities,  marked  by  sinuous  thorough- 
fares, lanes  and  alleys ;  wide,  unfenced  spaces  in  which 
grew  barberry  bush,  nodding  flag  and  velvety  mullen 
stock  in  profusion ;  quaint  old  nooks  and  secluded 
corners,  temptations  to  wandering  lovers,  and  taverns 


36  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

and  "coffee  houses,"  loitering  places  for  the  idle  or 
socially  inclined ;  sequestered  resorts  for  boys  or  negroes 
bent  on  sport  or  roquery,  and  darker  hiding  places 
among  the  wharves  ;  stately  and  substantial  dwellings, 
conspicuously  located,  richly  finished  and  furnished, 
and  surrounded  with  generous  lawns  and  garden 
spaces,  coach  and  cattle  barns  and  fields  for  tillage  or 
pasture. 

There  "were  no  blocks  — every  dwelling  as  independent 
as  its  self-respecting  owner.  The  architectural  product 
of  the  town's  century  and  a  half  of  growth  was  about 
2,000  structures,  four  being  of  stone.  Of  the  latter, 
King's  Chapel  alone  remains.  Fronting  that  great 
ancestral  pasture,  the  Common,  were  the  uninviting 
work-house  and  poor-house.  The  jail  occupied  the 
present  site  of  the  old  court  house.  On  Park  street 
corner  was  the  Granary,  and  opposite  stood  the  large 
manufacturing  building  converted  by  the  British  into  a 
hospital.  King  and  Queen,  now  respectively  State  and 
Court  streets,  presented  the  most  compactly  covered 
sections,  being  lined  on  both  sides  by  dwellings,  taverns, 
stores  and  offices.  The  residence  furnished  the  British 
Governor  was  opposite  the  Old  South,  a  stately,  com- 
modious mansion,  retired  from  the  street,  and  with  a 
deep,  handsomely  shaded  lawn  in  front.  The  Old  State 
House,  with  a  dignity  its  modern  surroundings  have 
effaced,  and  even  its  regilded  insignia  cannot  restore, 
held  the  halls  of  the  council  and  representatives,  their 
walls  hung  with  royal  portraits  and  trappings. 

This  territorial  area  was  peopled  by  about  17,000 
inhabitants,  nearly  all  of  one  lineage  and  language 
with  common  memories,  traditions  and  interests.  They 
enjoyed  their  first  half  century  in  independence  from 


ANNIVERSARY  OP  TIFK  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON.      37 

foreign  control,  repudiating,  rather  than  inviting, 
even  in  poverty  or  peril,  public  aid  from  abroad ; 
making  and  administering  their  own  laws,  conducting 
their  own  industries  and  trade  unassisted,  and  fight- 
ing their  own  defensive  battles  with  the  hostile  savage 
and  with  the  French  and  Dutch. 

But  the  time  came  when  English  armies  began  to 
appear  nominally  to  fight  for  them  in  expelling  the 
French,  and  later  the  crown  asked  remuneration,  and 
so  a  disturbing  element  to  their  internal  harmony 
and  security  was  introduced,  and  households  were 
divided  against  themselves.  They  claimed  at  first  to 
help  ;  they  ended  in  attempting  to  have  and  to  hold. 
The  gloved  hand  of  benevolence  became  the  mailed 
hand  of  oppression.  It  has  been  ever  thus  with  the 
greed  of  empire.  May  the  lesson  and  the  warning 
abide  with  us  forever. 

At  last  king,  ministry  and  Parliament,  through 
official  agency,  overruled  the  domestic  legislative  and 
judicial  functions  to  an  extent  that  was  destructive 
of  provincial  patience.  Boston  was  slowly  but  surely 
being  converted  into  a  miniature  vice-royalty.  On  the 
wing  of  subtle  but  potent  influences  came  in  old 
world  interests,  manners  and  fashions,  feelings  and 
distinctions  inharmonious  and  ill-adapted  to  the  austere, 
plain,  sturdy,  thrifty  and  frugal  ways  and  methods  of 
a  Puritanism  which  held  its  independence  by  traditional 
right,  and  could  find  no  congenial  companionship  with 
such  an  element.  It  has  been  well  said  of  these  sturdy 
people :  ' '  They  would  bow,  but  they  would  not  bend. 
They  would  petition,  but  they  would  not  comply. 
They  would  chaffer,  but  ratify  no  bargain  about 
liberty. " 


38  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

Their  prosperous  trade  had  brought  them  consider- 
able wealth,  but  the  commerce  had  had  a  demoral- 
izing influence.  It  had  been  largely  linked  to  what 
the  law  terms  "smuggling"  and  it  left  its  scars.  It 
is  a  family  history  their  descendants  now  struggle  to 
conceal,  or  deny,  while  still  holding  the  fruit  of  their 
ill-gotten  gain  in  stubborn  clutch.  About  1,000  vessels 
cleared  from  Boston  annually,  coursing  along  the 
coasts  and  skimming  the  open  sea  —  parentage  of 
that  later  merchant  service  on  whose  decks  were 
largely  bred  the  heroism  and  skill  that  have  covered 
our  navy  with  its  imperishable  and   peerless  glory. 

Revenue  laws,  covetous  and  greedy,  were  finally  im- 
posed by  Parliament,  designed  to  restrain  this  foreign 
and  domestic  trade  —  laws  which  became  too  severe 
and  onerous  to  be  patiently  borne  or  long  endured. 
All  manufactures,  even  for  the  commonest  necessities 
and  home  consumption,  were  strictly  prohibited,  and 
in  this  way  this  unnatural  parent  sought  to  force  her 
child  into  an  unequal  partnership,  which  promised 
neither  an  increase  of  capital  nor  an  even  share 
in  the  profits ;  and  the  interference  was  resented. 
These  enterprising  colonists  believed  themselves  com- 
petent to  conduct  their  own  affairs,  keep  their  own 
accounts  and  maintain  their  own  interests.  Three 
centuries  are  eloquent  witnesses  to  their  capacity 
and  that  of  their  lineal  and  adopted  descendants  and 
successors. 

These  conditions  were  the  fruitful  soil  wherein  rooted 
our  mighty  and  majestic  liberty-tree,  whose  ripened 
product  will  yet  litter  the  orchard  floors  of  every  clime, 
and  give  grateful  and  healthful  shelter  to  every  child 
of  God's  right  hand. 


ANNIYKKSAKY   OF  TIIK   KVACHATION  OF   BOSTON.       6\) 

As  the  day  of  final  contention  approached  three 
classes  were  gathered  within  the  old  town's  limits. 
They  were  the  ardent  Royalists,  consisting  of  the  town 
officials,  their  relatives,  retainers  and  dependants,  and 
those  merchants  whose  trade  interests  were  more  closely 
allied  to  England  than  to  America.  Next  came  the 
cautious  timeservers,  with  fond  clingings  to  the  mother 
country  and  grave  misgivings  as  to  the  problematic 
future  of  her  half -rebellious  daughter,  who  shrank  from 
openly  committing  themselves  further  than  by  prudent 
remonstrances  and  timid  advice.  Lastly  there  were 
the  high-minded,  true-hearted,  faithful,  liberty-loving 
few  whom  events  had  long  been  moulding  into  stubborn 
rebels  and  revolutionists. 

Without  were  the  intrepid  patriots  engaged  in  the 
grim  and  gloomy  service  of  investing  their  own  homes 
and  possessions  against  an  enemy  who  held  them  in 
thrall. 

Rarely  has  the  history  of  a  beleagured  town,  or  fort- 
ress, on  land  or  sea,  presented  such  a  scene.  Generally 
the  enemy  has  been  without,  and  those  within  have 
been  the  defenders  of  their  own  homes  ;  here  the  con- 
ditions were  singularly  reversed.  In  a  masterly  treat- 
ment of  this  very  topic  an  eloquent  orator  said  : 

' '  In  this  warring  and  distracted  world,  sieges,  the 
beleaguerment  of  towns,  cities  and  fortresses,  by 
forces  on  sea  or  land,  form  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  exciting  elements  of  all  history.  *  *  "  Stories 
of  skilful  manoeuvre  and  artful  stratagem,  stories  of 
harrowing  suffering  and  of  sublime  heroism,  wrought 
into  thrilling  narratives  of  prose  or  sung  in  the 
music  and  rhythm  of  immortal  poetry,  rehearse  for 
us  the  literature  of  sieges." 


40  ONE  PIUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

It  was  a  long  and  glorious  history  he  recalled, 
stretching  from  Babylon  to  Motley's  tragic  story  of 
the  Netherlands  ;  but  in  the  issues  at  stake  or  the 
final  results  involved  as  effecting  that  wonderful 
drama  on  the  stage  of  a  mighty  continent,  of  which 
this  was  the  opening  scene,  no  one  of  all  his  list 
equals  this  in  importance  to  the  destiny  of  the 
human  race.  Nowhere  else,  in  all  recorded  time, 
will  you  find  a  sublimer  instance  of  marvellous 
patience  and  self-restraint,  such  intelligent  shrewdness 
and  forethought,  such  plucky  endurance  and  deter- 
mination, such  courage,  constancy  and  devotion  as 
here  met  every  new  emergency  with  increased  forti- 
tude and  wisely  provided  an  efficient  and  adequate 
remedy.  

Great  events  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succes- 
sion, and  novel  and  important  questions  pressed  con- 
stantly for  settlement  ;  but  without  undue  haste  and 
in  wise  and  prudent  fashion,  by  that  simple  method 
of  the  "town  meeting,"  the  purest  and  safest  form 
of  local  government  man's  wisdom  has  ever  devised, 
these  problems  were  answered,  and  these  events 
turned  to  good  account. 

And  when  the  angry  contention,  embittered  by 
that  famous  "tea  party"  in  our  harbor,  culminated 
in  the  vindictive  Parliamentary  act  which  tightly 
closed  every  provincial  avenue  to  trade  or  intercourse 
by  water,  all  friendly  ties  were  rudely  sundered  and 
those  muffled  church  bells  rightly  tolled  the  knell  of 
the  old  relation  between  England  and  her  American 
colonies. 

Perhaps  it  isn't  the  only  time  when  a  tea  party  has 
occasioned  irritation  and  trouble. 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  TIIK  KVACl  ATION  OF  BOSTON.       41 

That  revengeful  measure  put  the  starving  town  in  a 
pitiful  condition,  which  called  for  immediate  relief,  and 
when  its  cry  of  distress  reached  the  other  colonies  then 
began  that  bond  of  sympathy  and  mutual  interest  on 
which  was  afterward  reared  this  majestic  union  of 
States  ;  hence  arose  that  succession  of  measures  fittingly 
initiated  in  the  Massachusetts  Assembly,  convened 
behind  closed  doors  at  Salem,  which  ended  in  a  Con- 
tinental Congress. 

The  twilight,  shadows  had  hardly  begun  to  fall  upon 
the  bloody  sod  of  Lexington,  or  creep  beneath  that 
historic  bridge  at  Concord,  when  laborers  in  the  coarse 
garb  of  the  field  and  shop  began  to  gather  in  miscella- 
neous groups  about  the  marshes  and  on  the  hillsides 
encircling  the  town.  They  came  on  foot  and  by  every 
method  of  rustic  conveyance,  from  varying  distances, 
armed  with  such  rude  weapons  and  furnished  with 
such  coarse  rations  as  their  meagre  household  stores 
could  supply,  and  they  occupied  at  length  every  avail- 
able foot  of  soil  on  the  surrounding  territory,  deter- 
mined to  invest  their  own  metropolis  and  menace,  or 
possibly  expel,  its  invaders. 

For  months  of  weary  days  and  sleepless  nights  this 
Spartan  band  maintained  a  constant  vigil,  without 
change  save  in  substitution  of  individual  membership 
or  materials,  until  the  surrender.  The  inspiring  scene 
has  been  pictured  in  language  more  vivid  than  any  at 
my  command,  and  I  borrow  it  for  use  here : 

' '  The  picturesque  groups  in  the  homely  array  of  the 
farm  or  the  workshop,  with  arbors  or  shanties  and  an 
occasional  tent  extemporized  from  a  fishing  smack,  as 
seen  from  a  quiet  distance  might  have  suggested  a 
gypsy   encampment   or    a   spring    picnic.      But    they 


42  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

stayed  there  so  long  and  to  such  purpose,  with  such  a 
work  to  do,  and  under  the  training  of  such  a  master 
mind  and  hand,  as  to  become  an  army,  uniformed, 
drilled,  disciplined  and  officered  for  a  campaign  after 
the  stern  method  of  war.  *  *  *  The  invading  forces 
were  held  to  their  contracted  quarters,  and  hencefor- 
ward were  deprived  of  vegetables  and  fresh  provisions, 
except  such  as  they  could  seize  from  the  islands  or 
obtain  by  a  supply  vessel.  Then  came  the  aggravation 
of  the  miseries  of  the  patriotic  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
insulted  by  the  military,  sneered  at  by  their  own 
fellow-citizens  —  who  boastfully  held,  as  Royalists,  to 
what  they  trusted  was  to  be  the  winning  side  — 
straitened  for  the  usual  supplies  of  life  and  reasonably 
apprehensive  of  pestilence  and  famine  within  and  of  a 
full  share  in  the  perils  of  an  assault  from  their  friends 
without. 


The  burden  of  distress  and  dread,  under  these  awful 
conditions,  became  at  last  so  great  that  an  appeal  was 
made  to  General  Gage  for  permission  to  leave.  Exact- 
ing a  covenant  that  they  should  surrender  their  arms  and 
when  outside  would  not  take  part  in  any  assault  upon 
the  town,  he  gave  a  reluctant  and  half-insincere  con- 
sent. Many  willing  to  desert  their  homes  and  posses- 
sions and  to  seek  safety  outside  under  these  humiliating 
conditions  gave  up  their  weapons  and  prepared  to  go. 

But  the  treacherous,  or,  at  least,  inconstant  com- 
mander faltered  in  his  part  of  the  covenant  and  finally 
recanted.  But  the  exigencies  soon  became  so  pressing 
that  he  was  glad  to  rid  himself  of  the  poor  and  infirm, 
the  sick,  women  and  children ;  and  he  let  them  depart. 
But  all  of  those  toward  whom  he  entertained  the  least 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OP  BOSTON.      43 

suspicion  of  patriotism  he  forced  to  remain.  So  house- 
hold ties  were  sundered,  household  circles  broken  ;  the 
dependent  were  often  left  to  themselves,  and  the  feeble 
made  to  suffer . 

Since  Pharaoh  listened  to  his  cruel  heart  and  wicked 
counsellors,  and  Israel  began  its  weary  exodus,  no  page 
of  history  presents  a  community  of  similar  size, 
shattered  and  torn,  distracted  and  liven  in  utter 
wretchedness  to  a  greater  degree  than  were  these 
beleaguered  patriots  under  such  rueful  experiences. 
Here  they  were  compelled  to  remain,  as  hostages  for 
their  invaders'  safety,  amid  shattered  household  altars 
and  trades  and  industries  completely  paralyzed  ;  their 
homes  invaded,  their  sanctuaries  defiled,  their  schools 
closed,  their  Sabbath  observances  profaned,  their  habits 
of  order  and  discipline  discredited,  and  their  safety 
imperiled. 

Still,  we  can  believe  their  stern  lips  uttered  little,  if 
any,  complaint,  nor  did  their  brave  spirits  falter,  for  we 
are  told  that  no  temptation  of  wage  or  reward  was 
potent  enough  to  engage  the  poorest  or  meanest 
mechanic  or  carpenter  in  building  barracks  to  shelter 
the  red-coated  invader  from  the  blasts  of  a  New  Eng- 
land winter. 

In  that  harsh  school  of  discipline,  American  heroism 
was  educated,  American  oratory  was  stimulated,  and 
American  statesmanship  was  trained.  Thank  God, 
some  of  it  remains  to  our  day. 

It  was  indeed  a  motley  collection  of  uneducated 
soldiery  that  gathered  to  save  the  old  town.  Its  com- 
panies were  fragments ;  its  regiments  were  the  merest 
skeletons  ;  its  officers  were  but  village  favorites, 
selected   by   local  partiality  and  hampered  by  a  com- 


44  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

mon  familiarity  which  was  destructive  to  discipline. 
Consequently,  all  attempts  at  the  enforcement  of  sub- 
ordination or  the  adjustment  of  rank  on  any  substan- 
tial lines  met  at  once  with  stubborn  dissension  and 
bitter  jealousies.  These  hastily  extemporized  soldiers 
claimed  the  liberty  of  going  and  coming  at  pleasure, 
and  this  restless  disposition  rendered  them  an  incon- 
stant and  unsteady  force.  But  over  it  all  was  the 
masterly  mind  and  hand  of  Washington.  Trained  to 
some  military  experience  in  the  wilderness  of  Virginia, 
he  here  learned  the  art  of  war.  With  this  wavering 
and  uneven  force  he  was  in  constant  peril  and  dread  of 
successful  attack,  and  had  not  his  adversary  greatly 
over-estimated  his  strength  I  fear  the  history  of  that 
period  would  not  invite  the  celebration  of  this  evening. 

The  patient,  intrepid  commander,  in  a  letter  to  Con- 
gress, tells  the  impressive  story.     He  says : 

"It  is  not  in  the  pages  of  history,  perhaps,  to  furnish 
a  case  like  ours.  To  maintain  a  post  within  musket- 
shot  of  the  enemy  for  six  months  together  without 
powder,  and  at  the  same  time  to  disband  one  army  and 
recruit  another  within  that  distance  of  twenty  odd 
British  regiments,  is  more,  probably,  than  ever  was 
attempted." 

It  was  indeed  a  vast  and  dubious  undertaking,  and 
well  might  his  sore  distress  of  mind  prompt  him  to  con- 
fess to  a  confidential  friend  :  "I  have  many  an  un- 
happy hour  when  all  around  me  are  wrapped  in  sleep." 

But  the  mighty  task  was  accomplished  seasonably, 
and  with  that  consummate  prudence,  tact  and  skill,  so 
conspicuously  characteristic  of  his  long  and  illustrious 
career,  and  which,  in  any  group  of  military  heroes, 
would  easily  render  him  one  of  the  colossal  figures  of 
the  world. 


VNNIVKKSAKY   <>K  Till',   KVACUATION   OP   BOSTON'.       45 

But  to  the  work  here  in  South  Boston  is  due  more 
Largely  than  to  any  other  the  result  we  commemorate. 
The  chief  strategic  points  constantly  kept  in  view- 
were  here.  Two  towered  within  easy  sight  of  this 
spot,  near  the  sights  of  the  reservoir  and  the  blind 
asylum;  tin4  other,  known  as  Nook's  hill,  further 
away  from  us,  but  in  that  day  nearest  the  enemy 
and  capable  of  commanding  his  entire  encampment, 
was  located  on  the  present  site  of  the  Lawrence 
School-house.  So  systematic  and  thorough  were  the 
plans  and  preparations  for  possessing  these  heights, 
and  so  skilfully  were  they  executed,  that  their 
frowning  battlements  threatened  the  security  of  General 
Howe  before  he  suspected  their  existence.  Those 
structures  grew  in  the  silence  of  a  night,  like  that 
famous  temple  of  old,  without  perceptible  ' '  sound  of 
hammer  or  other  metal  tool "  or  instrument,  and  in 
manner  as  if  some  Aladdin's  lamp  had  there  wrought 
its  wondrous  charm.  Patient  oxen  brought  the  ma- 
terial over  frozen  ground  that  had  no  echo  to  give 
back  to  muffled  wheels,  and  the  cunning  drivers 
urged  their  beasts  in  whispers  ;  the  willing  hands  of 
diligent  workmen  hastened  the  construction,  distant 
cannon  distracted  the  enemy's  attention,  the  shadows 
of  night  hid  the  operations,  and  when  morning  came 
the  forts  were  prepared  to  tell,  if  necessary,  their 
mission  with  brazen  lips.  It  is  not  wonderful  that 
on  seeing  them  the  British  general  scratched  his  head 
and  exclaimed  : 

"I  know  not  what  I  shall  do.  The  rebels  have 
done  more  in  a  night  than  my  whole  army  would 
have  done  in  one  month." 

To  a  Boston  merchant   belongs    the   credit   of    sug- 


46  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY -FIFTH 

gesting,  and  to  the  citizen  soldiery  of  that  day  of 
improvising,  a  novel  method  of  defence  in  the  shape 
of  barrels  filled  with  earth,  and  placed  about  the 
fort,  ready  to  be  hurled  against  an  advancing  foe, 
which  drove  a  terrified  British  invader  forever  from 
New  England  soil,  and  sent  him  to  people  in  Halifax 
with  his  fugitive  band  of  contemptible  Tories.  No 
wonder  one  of  them,  writing  in  President  roads,  on 
the  eve  of  departure,  uttered  the  sentiment  that 
' '  neither  hell,  Hull  or  Halifax  could  afford  worse  shelter 
than  Boston."  We  rejoice  exceedingly  to-day  in  the 
thought  whether  the  author  of  that  saying  ever 
became  competent  to  judge  of  all  three  places  or 
not. 

But  what  a  glorious  night  it  was.  What  favoring 
conditions  for  such  a  bold  enterprise.  In  her  queenly 
beauty  the  full  moon  walked  those  starry  courts  and 
smiled  benignly  down  as  if  in  approval  of  the  work. 
The  air,  unusually  mild  for  that  season,  was  not  too 
chilly  when  tempered  by  exercise.  A  gracious  veil  of 
haze  hung  over  the  town  and  lowlands,  and  hid  these 
operations  from  the  watchful  sentries  of  the  enemy. 
And  not  till  long  after  daybreak  were  the  works  dis- 
closed to  the  astonished  gaze  of  the  British. 

General  Howe  was  now  convinced  that  he  must  at 
once  dislodge  the  intrenched  rebels,  or  evacuate  the 
town.  In  his  impotent  and  blind  fury  he  loaded  some 
transports  with  2,400  soldiers  under  Lord  Percy,  and 
embarked  them  on  the  hazardous  enterprise.  In  a 
gathering  storm  they  sailed  out  as  far  as  Castle  Island 
and  waited,  but  the  gale  increased,  drove  a  part  of  the 
fleet  upon  Governor's  Island  and  wrecked  it,  and  the 
venture  was  abandoned. 


ANNIVERSARY   OF  THE  EVACUATIOIS  OF  BOSTON.       47 

Preparations  were   now  begun    t<>   evacuate.     Who 
will  say  "God  was  not  with  our  fathers  ?" 


I  would  I  had  time  to  relate  the  scenes,  ludicrous  and 
melancholy  alike,  incident  to  that  hurried  departure, 
but  the  occasion  forbids.  It  has  been  often  told, 
and  the  story  should  be  in  the  memory  of  every 
American  youth.  Its  lessons  are  a  solemn  and  price- 
less legacy. 

The  old  town  was  now  restored  to  its  rightful  pos- 
sessors, marred,  however,  by  pestilence  and  plunder. 
Haggard  faces  and  wasted  forms  wandering  along  its 
streets  or  crouching  in  its  dismantled  homes  told  too 
plainly  their  tale  of  sorrow  and  suffering  during  the 
siege,  and  only  pallid  lips  and  feeble  tongues  were  left 
to  utter  faint  whispers  of  joy  at  their  deliverance. 

In  their  precipitate  flight  the  invaders  lost  much  by 
destruction,  and  left  far  more  valuable  stores  behind 
them  than  they  were  able  to  carry  away.  In  the  face 
of  a  contrary  wind  they  were  delayed  and  were  forced 
to  choose  the  Puritan  Saturday  evening,  midnight  and 
early  Sunday  morning  for  embarking. 

Once  afloat  in  their  dismantled,  encumbered  and 
overcrowded  vessels,  they  remained  some  days  in  the 
outer  harbor,  watched  rigidly  from  every  point  of  look- 
out ashore  and  the  decks  of  Yankee  skippers  till  they 
disappeared  forever  from  Massachusetts  bay.  It  was 
such  a  scene  of  heroism  and  suffering,  of  crime  and 
cowardice,  as  might  well  engage  the  pen  of  a  Hugo  or 
the  pencil  of  a  Hogarth. 

Inspired  by  its  memories,  instructed  by  its  lessons, 
and  sharing  in  its  results,  may  we  see  to  it  that  those 
lessons  shall  not  be  in  vain,  and  that  those  results  shall 


48  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

ever  stand  unimpaired,  a  blessing  to  us,  and  a  precious 
legacy  to  all  coming  generations. 

God  help  us  to  be  true  to  duty  and  the  right. 


Like  the  previous  speaker  the  Hon.  Charles  J.  Noyes  was 
accorded  an  ovation  at  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks.  Toast- 
master  Martin  then  introduced  Mayor  Hart,  who  was  also 
warmly  received.     He  made  a  brief  speech  and  to  the  point. 

MAYOR   THOMAS   N.    HART. 

My  duty  is  a  pleasant  one  and  a  very  short  one.  I 
come  here  to  congratulate  your  association  upon  the 
effect  of  to-day's  work.  When  your  committee  and 
the  committee  of  the  City  Government  asked  me  to 
approve  $7,000  for  to-day's  celebration,  I  thought  it  was 
a  large  sum  of  money  for  the  day.  I  think  it  is  very 
small  now. 

When  your  committee  said  that  we  were  to  order 
100,000  medals  for  every  school  child  in  Boston  I  said 
that  meets  my  approbation  and  takes  half  of  the  money. 
At  another  time  it  was  asked  :  "Are  these  medals  to 
be  given  to  only  the  school  children  of  Boston,  meaning 
the  public  school  children?"  Some  one  said :  "We  are 
to  recognize  a  portion  of  the  parochial  schools."  I  said  : 
"  Every  school  child  in  Boston  must  have  a  medal." 

I  have  only  this  to  say,  Mr.  Toastmaster,  I  congratu- 
late you  upon  to-day's  work.  I  hope  that  in  another 
year  and  that  in  twenty-five  years  you  will  have  a  cele- 
bration that  will  outdo  this  one. 

Congressman  Naphen  was  then  presented. 

CONGRESSMAN   NAPHEN. 

To  the  east  of  our  noble  state  capitol,  on  the  emi- 
nence, where  in  'colonial  days  the  beacon   light   wel- 


ANNIVERSARY   OF  TIFK   KVACUATION  OF  HOSTON.       49 

corned  the  home-coming  mariner,  there  rises  a  shaft 
commemorative  of  the  great  events  that  lead  up  to  the 
independence   of  the   colonies.     On   it   we  read   these 

words  :  — 

"  Amei-icans 

while  from  this  eminence 

scenes  of  luxuriant  fertility 

of  flourishing  commerce 

and  the  abodes  of  social  happiness 

meet  your  view 

forget  not  those 

who  by  their  exertions 

have  secured  to  you 

these  blessings." 

All  around  it  are  seats  of  learning,  libraries,  business 
houses  and  private  residences.  Activity  is  seen  on 
every  side,  and  where  the  single  light  stood  so  many 
years  ago  the  hurrying  throng  passes  to  and  fro  dur- 
ing every  hour  of  the  busy  day  ;  perhaps  a  stray  one 
here  and  there  reads  the  inscription,  reflects  on  the 
changes  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years,  and 
remembers  ' '  those  who  by  their  exertions  have  secured 
these  blessings,"  to  which  we  have  fallen  heir.  In  the 
whirl  of  affairs  we  do  not  stop  to  think  of  all  these 
things,  but  to-night  we  put  aside  the  cares  of  our  ordi- 
nary business  and  give  ourselves  up  to  the  contempla- 
tion of  such  thoughts. 

It  is  not  for  me  to  recount  the  history  of  the  day  we 
celebrate,  or  the  events  that  lead  up  to  it.  Nor  indeed 
is  any  speech  necessary  to  rouse  you  to  the  significance 
of  this  day. 

This  representative  gathering  proves  that  the  patri- 
otic   spirit    needs    no    awakening   in    South    Boston. 


50  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

Liberty's  fires  burn  here  as  brightly  as  they  did  in  the 
old  days,  when  the  beacon  light  flashed  out  from 
yonder  hill. 

This  spirit  is  characteristic  of  our  district  ;  but  it  is 
only  on  such  an  occasion  as  the  present  one  that  its 
full  strength  is  manifsst.  We  are  proud  of  South 
Boston,  proud  of  its  good  meu  and  women,  and  proud 
of  the  loyalty  of  its  people  that  has  never  failed  when 
city,  state  or  nation  called. 

We  are  proud  also  of  the  fact  that  it  was  from  Dor- 
chester Heights  and  Nook  Hill,  which  are  a  part  of  us, 
the  cannon  frowned  on  the  picked  soldiers  of  England, 
who  lost  no  time  when  they  realized  their  danger, 
hastily  to  leave  the  soil  of  Massachusetts,  never  to 
return. 

We  have  on  many  occasions  entertained  men  of  emi- 
nence, but  to-night,  it  is  our  good  fortune  to  have  with 
us,  among  the  distinguished  guests,  one  who  is  fore- 
most among  the  public  men  of  to-day,  —  our  Senior 
Senator.  Massachusetts  has  been  represented  in  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States  by  a  galaxy  of  able  men, 
who  have  left  their  imprint  on  the  legislation  of  the 
country,  and  have  made  our  Commonwealth  a  power 
in  the  counsels  of  the  nation.  Among  them  three 
names  stand  out  pre-eminent,  —  Webster,  Sumner, 
Hoar.  The  name  of  each  is  associated  with  some  great 
cause  in  which  the  rights  of  human  kind  are  con- 
cerned. Their  public  lives  are,  and  will  be,  part  and 
parcel  of  the  history  of  the  republic.  Webster  and 
Sumner  have  passed  away.  Our  honored  guest  lives  — 
lives  in  the  hearts  of  the  American  people.  Far  dis- 
tant be  the  day  when  his  wise  counsel  may  be  lost  to 
his  countrymen. 


ANNIVERSARY  OP  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON.      51 

Iii  the  words  of  our  own  poet,  Holmes,  — 

"  His  the  stainless  shield, 

No  shame  defaces  and  to  envy  mars; 
When  our  far  future  record  is  unsealed 

His  name  shall  shine  among  the  morning  stars." 

We  may  with  propriety  consider  briefly  who  they 
were  who  stood  here  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years 
ago,  —  recall  what  they  accomplished,  note  what  they 
have  left  us,  and  realize  what  there  is  for  us  to  do  that 
the  great  work  may  not  falter.  The  great  Washington 
was  here,  Putnam,  Moylan,  Stark,  Knox,  Sullivan  and 
Ward  were  here.  We  can  look  back  to-night  through 
the  mists  of  all  these  years,  and  call  up  before  us  the 
inspiring  picture  which  greeted  the  eyes  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  American  forces  on  that  memor- 
able morning.  First  his  anxious  eye  skims  along  his 
own  hastily  constructed  ramparts,  manned  by  his  sturdy 
farmers,  —  brave,  loyal,  resolute,  and  determined,  yet 
unskilled  in  warfare,  and  unused  to  the  discipline  of  the 
camp  or  the  field.  From  Eoxbury  and  Charlestown, 
the  hardy  patriots  have  circled  the  captive  town.  They 
have  imprisoned  the  hostile  army. 

The  great  commander  knows  the  strength  of  his 
position,  but  he  fears  the  inexperience  of  his  men.  Can 
they  hold  their  works  against  the  trained  army  before 
them,  in  the  contest  that  cannot  now  be  long  delayed? 
It  is  true  they  stood  their  ground  well  at  Lexington, 
Concord  and  Bunker  Hill,  but  the  same  difficulty  that 
met  them  there  confronts  them  now,  —  their  powder 
is  scarce.  It  will  not  hold  out  through  a  prolonged 
battle.  And  if  the  enemy  should  break  through  his 
lines  and  route  this  little  army,  what  would  become  of 


52         ONE  HUNDKED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

the  patriot  cause?  What  of  the  independence  of  the 
colonies,  what  of  the  men  who  should  be  taken  in  arms? 
It  would  mean  the  death  of  all  his  hopes  for  his  country's 
freedom,  and  the  scorn  of  those  who  could  not  know-,  or 
would  not  understand,  the  difficulties  under  which  he 
labored.  And  what  would  history  say  of  him,  —  the 
fallen  leader? 

These  and  kindred  thoughts  doubtless  sweep  over  his 
mind,  as  he  surveys  his  forces  ;  and  then  he  turns  his 
gaze  on  the  town  below  him.  There  are  signs  of  activity 
along  the  harbor  front ;  men  are  marching  to  and  fro  ; 
boats  are  plying  between  the  shore  and  the  war  vessels 
lying  at  anchor  ;  everybody  is  astir.  Doubtless  his 
hand  feels  for  his  sword,  and  his  lips  start  to  frame 
some  words  of  command  ;  but  a  second  gaze  satisfies 
him  that  the  marching  men  have  no  hostile  intent. 
What  does  all  this  commotion  mean?  Does  it  mean 
that  this  splendid  army,  the  flower  of  the  English  armed 
strength,  is  to  turn  its  back  on  the  town  where  it  has 
been  indulging  in  luxurious  ease  and  disgracefully  yield 
it  up  to  the  despised  farmers  they  had  driven  before 
them  at  Bunker  Hill? 

There  was  no  other  explanation.  The  British  army 
had  feasted  too  long.  The  humble  farmers  had  been 
slowly,  but  steadily,  weaving  their  web  about  them, 
until  at  last  the  victims  were  securely  caught  ;  retreat 
was  cut  off  by  land.  Supplies  were  only  to  be  had  from 
England,  and  these  would  be  too  long  in  reaching  them. 
There  was  nothing  for  them  to  do  but  fly,  and  this  they 
did.  The  English  marched  out  and  the  Americans 
marched  in  to  the  tune  of  "Yankee  Doodle  Dandy," 
and  from  that  day  to  this  "Yankee  Doodle"  has  been 
the  patron  saint  of  every  American  school  boy. 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF   BOSTON.       5.') 

Boston  breathed  freely  once  more,  for  the  first  time 
since  the  odious  tea  tax.  Her  citizens  walked  the 
streets  in  safety  ;  there  was  no  red-coated  soldiery  to 
molest  or  disturb  them  ;  a  great  change  came  over  the 
town  and  its  inhabitants  ;  from  a  disspirited,  despair- 
ing people,  there  was  a  new  birth  of  hope,  and  the 
dawn  of  freedom  seemed  nearer. 

You  know  the  rest,  —  how  from  Boston  the  good  news 
spread  over  the  country  ;  how  the  fires  of  patriotism, 
which  had  been  allowed  to  smoulder  by  the  inactivity 
of  the  American  army,  were  rekindled  by  this  bloodless 
victory.  All  Europe  was  astonished.  The  national 
pride  of  England  was  sorely  wounded.  It  was  a  glori- 
ous triumph. 

To-day  the  tramp  of  marching  feet  is  heard  in  the 
city.  Again  vessels  of  war  are  in  the  harbor  ;  but  we 
have  no  fear,  no  suspense,  —  we  are  secure  of  our  posi- 
tion. We  know  that  the  marching  men  are  our  own 
flesh  and  blood  ;  no  enemy  lurks  in  the  city  ;  the  boom- 
ing cannon  are  manned  by  our  own  friends.  The 
mighty  vessels  of  war  are  ' '  our  country's  own  means 
of  distinction  and  defense,"  and  the  flag  which  floats 
over  us  is  not  the  flag  of  thirteen  stars,  but  the  flag  of 
forty-five  stars  ;  not  the  flag  of  a  people  struggling  for 
independence,  but  the  flag  of  the  mightiest  and  noblest 
nation  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 

The  light  on  the  hill  does  not  burn  to-night,  but  the 
light  of  the  example  of  the  men  of  '76  lives,  and  will 
live  throughout  all  ages. 

They  secured  the  independence  of  the  colonies  and 
the  establishment  of  this  great  structure  of  government, 
the  freest,  the  broadest  and  the  best  that  the  sun  of 
heaven  shines  upon.     It  is  an  enduring  monument  to 


54  ONE  HUNDKED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

the  skill  and  sagacity  of  its  builders.  They  bequeathed 
to  us  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  the  Consti- 
tution, —  which,  in  the  words  of  Sumner,  are  ' '  the  two 
immortal  title  deeds  of  liberty."  They  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  a  government  where  every  man  is  the  peer  of 
his  neighbor  ;  where  the  boy  of  the  tow-path  of  to-day 
may  become  President  of  the  Eepublic  to-morrow,  and 
they  left  us  also  a  vigorous,  healthy,  public  spirit  and 
love  of  country  that  shall  never  die. 

It  is  for  us  to  perpetuate  their  memory  by  maintain- 
ing the  principles  for  which  they  offered  their  lives,  so 
that  the  same  freedom  which  we  enjoy  may  be  the 
heritage  of  every  human  being  coming  within  the  pro- 
tection of  our  flag. 

Let  us  see  to  it  that  our  flag  shall  stand  for  liberty 
and  right  at  all  times  ;  that  it  shall  be  pure  and  clean, 
unmarred  by  dishonor  and  untarnished  by  injustice. 
Thus  we  will  preserve  for  our  posterity  ' '  the  blessings 
which  have  been  secured  to  us,"  and  "  while  the  earth 
grows  a  plant  or  the  sea  rolls  a  wave  "  we  shall  remain 
not  only  a  nation  among  the  powers,  but  a  power 
among  the  nations. 

The  following  ode  was  then  read  by  Mr.  Charles  P. 
Anderson: 


ODE  TO  PATRIOTISM. 

I'.V   (   ll  \ltl.i:s    I'.   A.NDEHSON. 

To  Thee,  0  Patriot,  to-night  we  sing  — 

Through  endless  years  thy  works  shall  shine; 

With  hearts  aflame  our  voices  ring  — 
Our  lives,  our  rev'rence,  all  are  thine! 

Thy  precepts  yet  our  steps  will  lead; 

Thy  blood  commingles  still  with  ours; 
We  glory  that  each  noble  deed 

Shall  brighter  grow  while  time  endures. 

We  kneel  beneath  yon  sacred  hill, 

On  whose  high  crest  was  Freedom  born! 

Where  rose  the  Flag,  untarnished  still, 
Upon  the  breast  of  sunlit  morn. 

And  soul  to  soul  our  tributes  raise 
To  thee  who  led  our  footsteps  right  — 

We  proudly  give  our  meed  of  praise  — 
Thy  courage  triumphed  over  might! 

O  Patriot  grand,  thy  deathless  fame, 
Emblazoned  high,  our  paths  shall  show 

The  way,  which,  trodden  in  thy  name 
With  love  and  loyalty  will  glow! 


56         ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 


COPIES  OF  LETTEES  OF  EEGEET  TO  ATTEND  EVACU- 
ATION DAY  CELEBEATION. 


Oysteb  Bay,  L.  L,  February  27,  1901. 

My  Dear  Sir,  —  I  wish.  I  could  accept,  but  it  is  simply  out 
of  the  question.  I  have  more  on  my  hands  now  than  I  can  begin 
to  attend  to. 

With  regret,  sincerely  yours, 

T.  ROOSEVELT. 


Navy  Department,  Washington,  March  11,  ]901. 

John   H.    Means,    Esq.,    Pres.    S.    Boston    Citizens'   Asso'n, 
/South  Boston. 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  am  in  receipt  of  the  kind  invitation  of  the 
South  Boston  Citizens'  Association  to  attend  a  banquet  to  be 
given  on  the  125th  anniversary  of  Evacuation  Day  on  the 
evening  of  the  18th  instant,  and  I  regret  that,  as  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  go  to  Boston  at  that  time,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
accept. 

I  thank  you,  however,  for  your  courtesy,  and  I  am, 

Very  truly  yours, 

JOHN   D.  LONG. 


[Personal.]  United  States  Senate, 

Washington,  D.C.,  March  2,  1901. 

Mr.   John    H.   Means,  /South   Boston    Citizens'  Association, 
Boston,  Mass. 

My  Dear  Sir,  —  I  have  your  letter  of  February  28,  and  I 
am  very  much  obliged  to  you  by  your  kind  invitation  to  deliver 
an  address  at  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary  of  the  evacuation  of  the  City  of  Boston  by  the 
British.  I  wish  very  much  indeed  that  I  could  accept  and  be 
present,  for  I  would  like  to  come,  but  the  Senate  will  in  all 
probability  still  be  in  extraordinary  session  at  that  time,  and 


LNNIVERSAR1    OP  THE  EVACUATION   OF  BOSTON.       57 

thai  being  the  case  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  i"  leave  Wash- 
ington. 

1  regrel  very  much  thai  I  musl  decline  your  invitation. 

\  ery  sincerely  yours, 

John   II.   Means,  Esq.  II.  C.   LODGE. 


Commonwka i/iii  of  Massachusetts, 
[state  skal.]  Executive  Department, 

Boston,  March  1 1,  1901. 

Mr.  John  II.  Means,  President  South,  Jioston  Citizens''  Asso- 
ciation. : 

Mv  Dear  Sir, —  I  beg  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  the  kind 
invitation  of  your  association  to  be  present  at  the  celebration 
of  the  125th  anniversary  of  Evacuation  Day  on  the  evening  of 
Monday,  March  18,  and  regret  extremely  to  be  obliged  to  say  in 
reply  that  owing  to  the  great  pressure  of  my  official  duties  it  will 
not  be  possible  for  me  to  accept. 

I  thank  you  for  the  courtesy  of  your  invitation,  and  beg  to 
remain, 

Yours  very  truly, 

W.  M.  CRANE. 


[E.  B.  W.] 

New  York  City. 

Mr.  John  H.  Means,  Pres.  So.  JBoston  Citizens''  Asso.: 

Dear  Sir,  —  Being  absent  from  the  city  for  a  few  weeks  I 
am  obliged  to  decline  your  kind  invitation  for  the  evening  of 
March  18. 

Wishing  you  all  success  in  your  celebration,  I  am, 

Very  truly  yours, 

ELEANOR   B.  WHEELER, 

Regent  Dorchester  Heights  Chapter, 
March  14,  1901.  Daughters  of  Revolution. 


58       ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON. 


American  Irish  Historical,  Society, 

40  East  68th  Street,  New  York, 

March  15,  1901. 

I  regret  that  a  previous  engagement  for  the  evening  of  March 
18  compels  me  to  decline  the  kind  invitation  extended  to  me  to 
be  present  at  the  banquet  of  the  South  Boston  Citizens'  Asso- 
ciation. Accept  my  best  wishes  for  a  successful  and  pleasant 
evening. 

Respectfully, 

JOHN   D.  CRIMMINS, 

President. 


State  of  New  Hampshire, 
John  C.  Linehan,  Insurance  Department, 

Commissioner.  Concord,  March  14,  1901. 

Mr.  John  H.  Means,  jPres.  So.  Boston  Citizens'1  Association: 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  am  under  obligations  for  invitation  to  attend 
the  125th  anniversary  of  Evacuation  Day,  on  Monday  evening, 
18th  instant. 

A  previous  engagement  will  prevent  my  acceptance,  but  I 
want  to  thank  you  for  kind  remembrance. 

March  17,  1776,  marks  the  departure  of  British  troops  from 
Boston;  March  17,  1901,  marks  the  departure  of  British  indus- 
trial competition  from  the  United  States ;  may  the  departure  of 
both  be  final,  and  may  our  government  remain  forever  what  it  is 
to-day,  the  freest,  the  most  tolerant,  the  most  enlightened,  the 
most  humane,  and  the  most  truly  religious  on  earth. 

Sincerely  yours, 

JOHN   C.  LINEHAN. 


THE  WASHINGTON  MEDAL. 


Copy  of    a   Gold    Medal    presented  to   General    Washington   by 
Congress  on   the    Evacuation   of    Boston. 


\  W  t) 

aj 

1 

'■\    s 

1  • 

\  \ 

(S 

I. — Arms  of  the  Washington    Family  obtained  from   the    Herald's   College,    London. 
2.  —  Copy  of  General   Washington's  Seal. 


THE  WASHINGTON  MEDAL. 


The  gold  Medal  commemorative  of  the  Evacuation  of  Boston 
became  the  property  of  George  Steptoe  Washington,  the  son  of 
Samuel  Washington,  who  was  the  General's  elder  brother.  The 
next  owner  of  the  Medal  was  Dr.  Samuel  Walter  Washington, 
eldest  son  of  George  Stejitoe  Washington.  On  the  decease  of 
the  doctor  at  Hasewood,  Virginia,  in  1831,  his  widow  became 
possessed  of  the  relic.  She  is  still  living.  She  had  given  it  to 
her  only  son,  George  Lafayette  Washington,  who  had  married 
the  daughter  of  her  brother,  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  B.  Clemsom,  of 
Claymont,  Delaware.  On  the  recent  decease  of  George  La- 
fayette Washington,  the  Medal  became  the  property  of  his 
widow,  Mrs.  Ann  Bull  Washington,  from  whom  with  proper 
certificates  and  vouchers,  by  the  generous  co-operation  of  fifty 
citizens  of  Boston,  it  has  now  been  secured  to  the  permanent 
ownership  of  this  city,  with  which  it  is  so  gratefully  identified, 
and  has  been  deposited  in  the  Public  Librai-y. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  Medal  has  been  transmitted  through 
the  descendants,  in  successive  generations,  of  General  Washing- 
ton's elder  brother.  They  have  fully  appreciated  its  intrinsic 
and  symbolic  value,  and  have  anxiously  taken  care  for  its  safety 
under  the  risks  and  perils  which  have  attended  its  preservation. 
It  is,  itself,  a  most  beautiful  and  perfect  specimen  of  workman- 
ship of  the  die  and  the  mint,  and  is  without  a  blemish  or  any 
perceptible  wear  of  its  sharp  outlines.  During  our  civil  war  its 
then  owner,  George  Lafayette  Washington,  was  residing  eleven 
miles  from  Harper's  Ferry,  on  the  main  route  to  Winchester, 
where  the  belligerents  held  alternate  possession.  The  Medal,  in 
its  original  case  of  green  seal-skin,  lined  with  velvet,  was 
enveloped  in  cotton,  and,  deposited  in  a  box,  was  buried  in  the 


62         ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

dry  cellar  of  a  venerable  mansion  where  General  Washington 
usually  spent  many  months  of  the  genial  portion  of  the  year. 
The  original  case,  which  fell  into  decay  by  this  exposure, 
accompanies  the  Medal  in  its  present  repository. 

The  successive  owners  of  this  precious  heir-loom  have  often 
been  solicited  to  part  with  it  by  private  importunity,  or  for  pub- 
lic institutions,  but  have  always  declined  to  do  so,  having  in 
view  that  if  ever  it  passed  out  of  their  hands  it  should  be  to 
find  its  resting-place  in  the  City  of  Boston.  The  losses  to 
which  its  owners  were  subjected  during  the  late  war,  concurring 
with  the  interest  of  the  occasion  of  the  centenial  day  which  it 
commemorated,  combined  to  induce  the  measures  which  have 
had  such  a  felicitous  result. 

A  member  of  the  Washington  family  residing  in  Texas,  being 
aAvare  of  the  willingness  of  his  kinswoman  in  Delaware  to  part 
with  the  Medal,  on  the  conditions  just  referred  to,  addressed  a 
letter,  on  the  6th  of  last  December,  to  his  Honor,  Mayor  Cobb, 
making  proposals  to  bring  about  the  intended  object. 

As  the  Mayor  did  not  judge  it  expedient  to  propose  any 
official  action  to  the  city  government,  he  consulted  with  the 
Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop  on  the  subject,  who  immediately 
prepared  a  subscription  paper,  which  he,  with  the  hearty  co- 
operation of  the  Mayor  and  of  ex-Mayor  the  Hon.  Otis  Norcross, 
succeeded  in  having  filled  to  the  necessary  amount. 

While  this  measure  was  in  progress  the  Rev.  Dr.  Clemson, 
the  uncle  of  the  late  George  Lafayette  Washington,  and  the 
father  of  his  widow,  Mrs.  Anne  Bull  Washington,  not  being 
aware  of  the  facts  just  stated,  on  February  22,  1876,  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  Hon.  John  C.  Park,  of  this  city,  opening  a  direct 
communication  between  the  owner  of  the  Medal  and  those  who 
were  interested  in  its  transfer.  In  this  letter  Dr.  Clemson 
writes :  "  I  might  state  that  the  Medal  was  verbally  purchased 
by  Governor  Andrew,  of  your  State,  and  on  this  honored  day 
[the  birthday  of  Washington]  was  to  have  been  presented  to 
your  citizens.  But  his  premature  death  prevented  the  consum- 
mation." 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  I'.OSTON.       G3 

This  Medal,  of  which  a  description  will  be  found  in  the 
following  pages  of  this  volume,  was  the  only  gold  medal  given  by 
Congress  to  General  Washington.  Between  the  date  of  March 
25,  177(5,  when  this  gift  was  bestowed  by  a  resolve  of  Congress, 
and  the  year  1786,  by  votes  of  the  same  body,  a  series  of  ten  more 
gold  medals  was  struck  at  the  Paris  mint  commemorative  of  the 
great  events  and  the  great  men  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
The  French  Government  presented  a  set  of  these  in  silver,  in- 
cluding also  one  in  the  same  metal  of  that  which  had  been 
given  to  him  in  gold,  to  General  Washington.  It  is  asserted 
that  they  were  prepared  substantially  under  the  direction  of 
Lafayette.  This  series  of  eleven,  known  as  the  "  Washington 
Medals,"  on  the  decease  of  the  childless  General,  were  disposed 
of  with  other  similar  treasures,  under  the  direction  of  his 
administrator,  Judge  Bushrod  Washington,  among  the  heirs-at- 
law.  They  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Hon. 
Daniel  Webster,  and,  soon  after  his  decease,  into  the  hands  of 
his  friend,  the  Hon.  Peter  Harvey,  of  Boston.  This  gentleman, 
in  April,  1874,  most  generously  bestowed  them  upon  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  in  whose  cabinet  they  are 
now  gratefully  treasured.  Thus  all  the  "  Washington  Medals  " 
are  now  in  the  City  of  Boston. 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    THE    CITY    COUNCIL    RELATIVE    TO    THE 
WASHINGTON  MEDAL. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Alderman,  March  20,  1876,  the 
following  communication  was  received  :  — 

Executive  Department,  March  20,  1876. 

To  the  Honorable  the  City  Council  :  — 

Gentlemen,  —  It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  inform  you  that 
the  gold  Medal  presented  to  General  George  Washington  by  the 
American  Congress  in  1776,  commemorative  of  the  evacuation 
of  Boston  by  the  British  troops,  was  recently  purchased  of  the 


64       ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON. 

Washington  family  by  a  few  of  our  citizens,  to  be  given  by 
them  to  the  City  of  Boston  and  preserved  in  the  Boston  Public 
Library.  This  most  valuable  relic,  so  peculiarly  interesting  to 
Boston  as  commemorating  the  most  important  event  in  her 
history,  has  been  placed  in  my  hands,  and  by  me  transferred  to 
the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  in  whose  custody  it  is  to 
remain,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  donors.  A  copy 
of  the  subscription  list,  with  the  preamble  stating  the  object  of 
the  subscription,  is  enclosed  herewith. 

SAMUEL  C.  COBB,  Mayor. 


THE  LEAVE-TAKING  AND  EMBAKKATION. 


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THE  LEAVE-TAKING  AND  EMBARKATION. 


The  following  extracts  from  British  sources  give  us  authentic 
information  concerning  the  last  days  of  the  occupancy  of  Boston 
by  the  royal  army.  Almon's  "Remembrancer"  (Vol.  III., 
pp.  106,  107)  published  a  letter  "from  an  officer  of  distinction 
at  Boston  to  a  person  in  London,"  under  dates  from  March  3d 
to  10th. 

' '  March  3d.  —  For  these  last  six  weeks,  or  near  two  months,  we  have 
heen  better  amused  than  could  possibly  be  expected  in  our  situation. 
We  had  a  theatre,  we  had  balls,  and  there  is  actually  a  subscription  set 
on  foot  for  a  masquerade.  England  seems  to  have  forgot  us,  and  we 
have  endeavored  to  forget  ourselves;  but  we  were  roused  to  a  sense  of 
our  present  situation  last  night,  in  a  manner  unpleasant  enough.  The 
rebels  have  been,  for  some  time  past,  erecting  a  bomb  battery,  and  last 
night  began  to  play  upon  us.  [From  Lechmere's  Point.]  Two  shots  fell 
not  far  from  me.  One  fell  upon  Colonel  Monckton's  house,  and  broke  all 
the  windows,  but  luckily  it  did  not  burst  till  it  had  crossed  the  street. 
Many  houses  were  damaged,  but  no  lives  lost.  We  expect  some 
carcasses  to-night,  if  the  fear  of  destroying  their  own  property  does  not 
prevent  it.  Wbat  makes  this  matter  more  provoking  is,  that  their 
barracks  are  so  scattered,  and  at  such  a  distance,  that  we  can't  disturb 
them,  although  from  a  battery  near  the  water  side  they  can  reach  us 
easily. 

"March  Ath. — If  something  is  not  speedily  done  His  Britannic  Majes- 
ty's American  dominions  will  probably  be  confined  within  a  very  nar- 
row compass.  The  rebel  army  is  not  brave,  I  believe,  but  it  is  agreed 
on  all  hands  that  their  artillery  officers  are  at  least  equal  to  our  own. 
In  the  number  of  shells  that  they  flung  last  night  not  above  three  failed. 
This  morning  we  flung  four,  and  three  of  them  burst  in  tbe  air. 

"  March  5th.  —  This  is,  I  believe,  likely  to  prove  as  important  a  day 
to  the  British  empire  as  any  in  our  annals.  We  underwent  last  night  a 
very  severe  cannonade,  which  damaged  a  number  of  houses,  and  killed 
some  men.  This  morning,  at  daybreak,  we  discovered  two  redoubts  on 
the  hills  on  Dorchester  Point,  and  two  smaller  works  on  their  flanks. 
They  were  all  raised  during  the  night,  with  an  expedition  equal  to  that 
of  the  genii  belonging  to  Aladdin's  wonderful  lamp.  From  these  hills 
they  commanded  the  whole  town,  so  that  we  must  drive  them  from  their 


68  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

post  or  desert  the  place.  The  former  is  determined  upon,  and  five  regi- 
ments are  already  embarked.  A  body  of  light  infantry,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  Musgrave,  an  excellent  officer,  and  a  body  of  grenadiers, 
are  to  embark  to-night  at  seven.  I  think  it  is  likely  to  be  so  far  a  gen- 
eral affair,  that  we  shall  take  our  share  in  it.  Adieu,  balls,  masquer- 
ades, &c,  for  this  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  opening  of  the  campaign. 

"It  is  worth  while  to  remark  with  what  judgment  the  leaders  of 
the  rebels  take  advantage  of  the  prejudices,  and  work  upon  the  passions 
of  the  mob.  This  5th  of  March  is  the  anniversary  of  what  they  call  the 
Bloody  Massacre,  when,  in  (I  think)  1769,  the  king's  troops  fired  on  the 
people  in  the  streets  of  Boston.  If  ever  they  dare  stand  us,  it  will  be 
today  ;  but  I  hope  to-morrow  to  be  able  to  give  you  an  account  of  their 
defeat. 

'■'■March  Qih.  —  A  wind  more  violent  than  anything  I  ever  heard  pre- 
vented our  last  night's  purposed  expedition,  and  so  saved  the  lives  of 
thousands.  To-day  they  have  made  themselves  too  strong  to  make  a 
dislodgement  possible.  We  are  under  their  fire  whenever  they  choose 
to  begin  ;  so  that  we  are  now  evacuating  the  town  with  the  utmost 
expedition,  and  are  leaving  behind  us  half  our  worldly  goods.  Adieu! 
I  hope  to  embark  in  a  few  hours. 

'■'•March  1th.  —  When  the  transports  came  to  be  examined  they  were 
void  of  both  provisions  and  forage.  If  any  are  got  on  board  to-day  it 
will  be  as  much  as  can  be  done.  Never  were  troops  in  so  disgraceful  a 
situation,  and  that  not  in  the  least  our  own  fault,  or  owing  to  any  want 
of  skill  or  discretion  in  our  commanders,  but  entirely  owing  to  Great 
Britian  being  fast  asleep.     I  pity  General  Howe  from  my  soul. 

"  March  9th. —  Transport.  —  I  have  slept  one  night  on  board;  the  troops 
are  embarking  as  fast  as  possible.  I  mistook  when  I  imagined  the 
works  already  made  could  destroy  the  town ;  but  the  rebels  possess  a 
hill  so  situated,  that  if  they  pleased  to  erect  a  battery  it  would  entirely 
consume  us.  They  as  yet  have  not  proceeded  to  make  a  work,  nor  do 
they  attempt  to  molest  us  in  our  embarkation.  It  appears  as  if  there 
were  at  least  a  tacit  agreement  between  Washington  and  General  Howe. 

March  10th.  — ■  To-day  the  horse  transports  are  ordered  to  pull  down 
to  Castle  William,  a  fort  about  three  miles  from  the  town  in  our 
possession;  it  commands  the  harbor,  and  the  troops  now  here  will 
embark  the  last.  The  retreat  from  the  town  is  to  be  covered  by  a  large 
body  of  grenadiers,  and  light  infantry,  and  the  5th  and  the  10th  Regi- 
ments. The  Fowey,  a  man-of-war  of  twenty-eight  guns,  covers  the 
retreat  by  water.  A  packet  is  to  sail,  I  hear,  as  soon  as  the  army  is 
clear  of  the  town;  so  probably  I  shall  not  have  it  in  my  power  to  inform 
you  whether  we  are  attacked  in  our  retreat  or  not. 

"  Nantasket  Road,  March  11th.  —  Our  retreat  was  made  this  morning 
between  the  hours  of  two  and  eight.  Our  troops  did  not  receive  the 
smallest  molestation,  though  the  rebels  were  all  night  at  work  on  the 
near  hill,  and  we  kept  a  constant  fire  upon  them  from  a  battery  of  four 
twenty-four  pounders.  They  did  not  return  a  single  shot.  It  was  lucky 
for  the  inhabitants  now  left  in  Boston  they  did  not.  For  I  am  informed 
everything  was  prepared  to  set  the  town  in  a  blaze  had  they  fired  one 
cannon.     The  dragoons  are  under  orders  to  sail  to-morrow  for  Halifax, 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  EVACUATION  OF  UOSTON.       69 

a  cursed,  cold,  wintry  place  ovon  yet.  Nothing  to  eat,  less  to  drink. 
Had  times,  my  dear  Eriend.  The  displeasure  I  feel  from  the  very  small 
share  I  have  in  our  present  insignificancy  is  so  great  that  I  don't  know 
the  thing  so  desperate  I  would  not  undertake  in  order  to  change  our 
situation." 

From  the  "Uemcmhranccr,"  III.,  108.  "A  passenger  from 
Boston  gives  the  following  account"  :  — 

"  On  the  second  of  March  the  provincials  began  to  bombard  the  town 
from  a  place  called  Phipps1  Farm,  and  on  the  third  they  opened  a  24- 
pound  battery  on  Dorchester  Neck,  which  annoyed  the  army  exceed- 
ingly. On  the  fifth,  Gen.  Howe  embarked  six  regiments  to  attack  this 
battery,  but  a  strong  easterly  wind  preventing  the  men-of-war  from 
covering  or  supporting  them,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  desist.  The 
next  day  he  renewed  the  attempt,  but  found  the  work  so  strong  that 
he  returned  without  effecting  anything.  In  the  meantime,  the  pro- 
vincials had  thrown  near  a  hundred  bombs  into  the  town,  and  fired 
with  considerable  execution  from  their  battery.  Gen.  Ilowe,  therefore, 
got  some  of  the  selectmen  to  go  out  to  Gen.  Washington  to  inform 
him  that,  if  firing  continued,  he  must  set  fire  to  the  town  to  cover  his 
retreat.  Two  of  the  selectmen  returned,  and  having  communed  with 
Gen.  Howe,  went  back,  and  the  firing  immediately  ceased. 

"  Gen.  Howe  then  began  his  embarkation.  The  refugee  inhabitants 
went  first,  not  being  suffered  to  carry  anything  but  necessaries.  The 
mortars  and  heavy  artillery  could  not  be  embarked;  these  therefore,  they 
endeavored  to  burst,  by  charging  them  full  with  powder,  aud  firing  it 
off.  But  this  did  not  answer  their  wishes.  They  attempted  also  to 
destroy  all  the  small  arms  belonging  to  the  town.  While  this  work 
was  going  on,  a  deserter  from  the  provincial  camp  informed  Gen.  Howe, 
on  the  tenth,  that  Gen.  Washington  was  preparing  for  a  general  storm. 
Upon  this  intelligence,  the  General  and  all  the  troops  immediately 
embarked,  leaving  the  artillery,  stores,  etc.,  damaged  only,  as  the 
hurry  and  confusion  would  permit. 

"It  now  appeared,  by  the  movements  of  the  provincial  army  that 
they  were  taking  stations  upon  Hogg  and  Noddle's  Islands,  and  pre- 
paring to  attack  Castle  William.  If  they  had  succeeded  in  this,  they 
would  have  had  the  command  of  Boston  harbor,  and  destroyed  the 
fleet.  Gen.  Howe,  therefore,  dismantled  and  blew  up  Castle  William, 
and  then  fell  down  with  the  whole  fleet  into  Nantasket  road,  which  is 
an  open  and  exposed  station.  The  transports  were  mostly  small 
schooners,  under  the  protection  of  three  men-of-war.  March  is  the 
most  tempestuous  month  of  the  year  upon  the  American  coast,  so 
that  without  a  miracle  this  wretched  fleet  must  be  dispersed  and  lost. 
It  is  impossible  that  more  events  could  concur  to  render  their  distress 
complete,  and  their  ruin  almost  inevitable.  The  terms  of  agreement 
between  the  two  Generals  were  secret  ;  but  it  is  supposed  that  nothing 
was  to  have  been  destroyed,  and  that  this  breach  of  it  determined  the 
provincials  to  enter  the  town  sooner  than  was  intended." 


70  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIFTH 

"  Cambridge  March  27.  — Among  other  commodates  belonging  to  the 
late  garrison  at  Boston  we  have  got  their  orderly-book,  by  which  it 
appears  that  Gen.  Howe  had  7,575  effective  men,  exclusive  of  the  staff, 
so  that  with  the  marines  and  sailors  he  might  be  considered  as 
10,000  strong.  " 

From  an  officer  of  a  ship-of- war,  Boston  harbor,  March  23  :  — 

"  The  bay  swarms  with  American  privateers,  but  we  hope  to  protect 
the  transports,  which  are  daily  expected  from  the  West  Indies,  and  to 
send  them  safe  to  Halifax.  " 

"  Extract  of  a  letter  from  Boston.  His  Majesty's  ship 
Chatham,  March  24,  1776. "     (Almon,  III.,  107)  :  — 

"  The  retreat  of  the  troops  from  this  garrison  cannot  fail  to  be  differ- 
ently represented  in  England,  for  which  reason  I  have  found  time, 
from  our  great  hurry,  to  give  you  some  account  of  it.  In  the  first 
place,  the  General  not  receiving  any  letters  or  dispatches  from  govern- 
ment since  the  middle  of  October,  could  not  fail  of  making  everybody 
very  uneasy.  It  looked  as  if  we  were  left  destitute,  to  get  out  of  a 
bad  scrape  as  we  liked  best.  Our  provisions  falling  short,  added  to 
our  discontents.  The  fleet  afforded  us  no  relief.  Little  indeed  was  in 
their  power  ;  their  own  ill  equipment  was  enough  to  make  them  as 
dissatisfied  as  ourselves.  The  provincials,  who  .knew  exactly  the  state 
of  our  garrison,  harassed  us  from  their  batteries,  with  an  intention  of 
making  our  people  more  dissatisfied  in  hopes  of  desertions.  Finding 
no  probability  of  supply,  and  dreading  the  consequences  of  further 
delay,  it  was  thought  prudent  to  retire  to  the  ships,  and  to  save  what 
we  could.  Our  not  being  burthened  with  provisions,  permitted  us  to 
save  some  stores  and  ammunition,  the  light  field-pieces,  and  such 
things  as  are  most  convenient  of  carriage.  The  rest,  I  am  sorry  to  say 
we  were  obliged  to  leave  behind.  Such  of  the  guns  as  by  dismantling 
we  could  throw  into  the  sea  was  done  so;  the  carriages  were  disabled, 
and  every  precaution  taken  that  our  circumstances  would  permit,  for 
our  retreat  was  by  agreement.  The  people  of  the  town  who  were 
friends  to  government,  took  care  of  nothing  but  their  merchandise, 
and  found  means  to  employ  the  men  belonging  to  the  transports  in 
embarking  their  goods,  by  which  means  several  of  the  vessels  were 
entirely  filled  with  private  property  instead  of  the  king's  stores.  By 
some  unavoidable  accident,  the  medicines,  surgeons'  cbests,  instru- 
ments and  necessaries  were  left  in  the  hospital.  The  confusion, 
unavoidable  on  such  a  disaster,  will  make  you  conceive  how  much 
must  be  forgot  where  every  man  had  a  private  concern.  The  necessary 
care  and  distress  of  the  women,  children,  sick  and  wounded,  required 
every  assistance  that  could  be  given.  It  was  not  like  breaking  up  a 
camp,  where  every  man  knows  his  duty  ;  it  was  like  departing  your 
country,  with  your  wives,  your  servants,  your  household  furniture, 
and  all  your  incumbrances.  The  officers,  who  felt  the  disgrace  of 
their  retreat,  did  their  utmost  to  keep  up  appearances.  The  men,  who 


ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE   KVACF  ATM  >N  OF   BOSTON.       71 

thought  tlioy  were  changing  lor  l.ho  bettor,  strove  to  take  the  advantage 
of  the  present  times,  and  were  kept  from  plunder  and  drink  with  diffi- 
culty. In  had  plight  we  go  to  Halifax.  What  supply  we  arc  to  expect 
there  I  do  uotknow;  our  expectations  arc  not  very  sanguine.  The  neglect 
shown  us  bears  hard  on  us  all  ;  the  soldiers  think  themselves  betrayed; 
the  officers  all  blame  the  Admirality,  and  your  friend  Lord  S  —  is  uni- 
versally execrated;  the  sea-officers  complained  they  were  hurried  out 
of  England  in  a  most  shameful  condition,  not  half  manned,  and  ill- 
provided.  Fleet  and  army  complain  of  each  other,  and  both  of  the 
people  at  home.  If  we  fare  as  ill  at  Halifax  as  Ave  have  done  here 
lately,  I  fear  we  shall  have  great  desertion,  as  the  opportunity  will  be 
more  convenient.1' 


STATE  PAPEKS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

IT64--I776. 


STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1776. 


Instructions     to     the     Boston     Representatives     in     the 
General    Court,    Hay    24,    1764. 


To  Royal  Tyler,  James  Otis,  Thomas  disking  and  Oxenbridge 

Thacher  Esqrs. 

Gentlemen 

You  being  chose  by  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  to  Represent  them  in  the  General  Assembly 
the  ensuing  Year,  affords  you  the  strongest  Testimony  of  that 
Confidence  which  they  place  in  your  Integrity  and  Capasity  — 
By  this  choice  they  have  delegated  to  you  the  power  of  acting 
in  their  Publick  Concerns  in  general  as  your  own  prudence 
shall  direct  you,  always  reserving  to  themselves  the  Constitu- 
tional Right  of  expressing  their  Mind  and  giving  you  such  In- 
struction upon  particular  Matters,  as  they  at  any  Time  shall 
Judge  proper. 

We  therefore  your  Constituents  take  this  Opportunity  to 
declare  our  Just  Expectations  from  you 

That  you  will  constantly  use  your  power  and  influence  in 
maintaining  the  invaluable  Rights  and  Privileges  of  the 
Province,  of  which  this  Town  is  so  grear  apart;  As  well  as 
those  Rigkts  which  are  derived  to  us  by  the  Royal  Charter,  as 
those  which  being  prior  to  and  independent  on  it,  we  hold 
essentially  as  Freeborn  Subjects  of  G*.  Britain 

That  you  will  endeavor  as  far  as  you  shall  be  able  to  preserve 
that  independence  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  which 
characterises  a  Free  People,  and  the  want  of  which  may  in  a 
great  measure  prevent  the  happy  effects  of  a  free  Government ; 
Cultivating  as  you  shall  have  Opportunity,  that  Harmony  and 
Union  there,  which  is  ever  desireable  to  good  Men  when 
founded  in  Principles  of  Virtue  and  Publick  Spirit;  and  guarding 


76  STATE  PAPEKS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

against  any  undue  weight  which  may  lend  to  disadjust  that 
critical  Ballance  upon  which  our  happy  Constitution  and  the 
Blessings  of  it  do  depend  —  And  for  this  purpose  we  particu- 
larly recommend  it  to  you  to  use  your  endeavors  to  have  A  Law 
passed  whereby  the  Seats  of  such  Gentlemen  as  shall  accept  of 
Posts  of  Profit  from  the  Crown  or  the  Governor  while  they  are 
Members  of  the  House  shall  be  vacated  agreable  to  an  Act  of  the 
British  Parliament,  till  their  Constituents  shall  have  ye.  Oppor- 
tunity of  Re-Electing  them  if  they  please or  of   returning 

others  in  their  room 

Being  Members  of  the  Legislative  Body  you  will  have  a 
special  regard  to  the  Morals  of  this  People,  which  are  the  Bases 
of  Publick  Happiness  ;  and  endeavor  to  have  such  Laws  made  if 
any  are  still  wanting  as  shall  be  best  adapted  to  secure  them ; 
And  we  particularly  desire  you  carefully  to  look  into  the  Laws 
of  Excise,  that  if  the  Virtue  of  the  People  is  endangered  by  the 
multiplicity  of  Oaths  therein  enjoin'd  or  their  Trade  and  Busi- 
ness is  unreasonably  impeded  or  embarrass'd  thereby  the 
grievance  may  be  redressed 

As  the  preservation  of  Morals  as  well  as  property  &  right  so 
much  depends  upon  the  impartial  distribution  of  Justice  agre- 
able to  good  and  wholesome  Law  ;  and  as  the  Judges  of  the  Land 
do  depend  upon  the  Free  Grant  of  the  General  Assembly  for 
support ;  it  is  incumbent  upon  you  at  all  times  to  give  your 
Voice  for  their  honourable  maintenance  so  long  as  they  having 
in  their  Minds  an  iddefference  to  all  other  Affairs,  shall  devote 
themselves  wholly  to  the  duties  of  their  own  Department,  &  the 
further  study  of  the  Law,  by  which  their  Customs  Precedents 
Proceedings  and  Determinations  are  adjusted  and  limited. 

You  will  remember  that  this  Province  has  been  at  very  great 
Expence  in  carrying  on  the  late  Warr,  and  that  it  still  ly  under 
a  very  grievous  burden  of  Debt,  you  will  therefore  use  your  ut- 
most endeavor  to  promote  Publick  frugality  as  one  Means  to 
lessen  the  Publick  Debt,  and  we  recommend  as  worthy  your 
particular  attention,  whether  any  Expences  can  now  be  neces- 
sary to  maintain  the  Garrison  service  on  Our  Eastern  Frontier  ; 
considering  that  we  are  now  in  a  state  of  profound  peace  :  Our 
French  Enemys  being  totally  subdued,  and  there  being  hardly 
any  remains  of  the  Indian  Tribes  ever  again  to  anoy  us  — 

You  will  Joyn  in  any  Proposals  that  may  be  made  for  the 
better  Cultivating  the  Lands  &  improving  the  Husbandry  of 
this  Province  :  And  as  you  Represent  a  Town   which   lives  by 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   1701  TO   177c.  77 

its  Trade  we  expect  in  a  very  particular  manner  that  you  make 
it  the  Object  of  your  attention  to  support  our  Commerce  in  all 
its  .lust  Rights,  to  vindicate  it  from  all  unreasonable  Impositions 
and  promote  its  prosperity.  Our  Trade  lias  tor  a  long  Time 
laboured  under  great  Discouragements,  and  it  is  with  the 
deepest  concern  that  we  see  such  further  Difficulty^  coming 
upon  it,  as  will  reduce  it  to  the  lowest  Ebb,  if  not  totally  obstruct 
and  ruin  it.  We  cannot  help  expressing  our  surprize,  that 
when  so  early  notice  was  given  by  the  Agent  of  the  intention 
of  the  Ministry  to  burthen  us  with  new  Taxes,  so  little  regard 
was  had  to  this  most  interesting  Matter,  that  the  Court  was  not 
even  called  together  to  consult  about  it  till  the  latter  end  of  the 
Year,  the  consequence  of  which  was,  that  Instructions  could 
not  be  sent  to  the  Agent,  though  solisited  by  him,  till  the  Evil 
had  got  beyond  an  easy  remedie,  there  is  now  no  room  for 
further  delay  ;  We  therefore  expect  that  you  will  use  your 
earliest  endeavors  in  the  General  Assembly  that  such  Methods 
may  be  taken  as  will  effectually  prevent  their  proceedings 
against  us.  By  a  proper  Representation  we  apprehend  it  may 
easily  be  made  to  appear  that  such  severtys  will  prove  detri- 
mental to  Great  Britain  itself,  upon  which  Account  we  have 
reason  to  hope  that  an  Application  even  for  a  repeal  of  the 
Act,  should  it  be  already  passed  will  be  successfull.  It  is  the 
Trade  of  the  Collonys  that  render  them  beneficial  to  their 
Mother  Country  :  Our  Trade  as  it  is  now  and  always  has  been 
conducted  centers  in  Great  Britain,  and  in  return  for  her  Manu- 
factures affords  her  more  ready  Cash,  beyond  any  Comparison, 
that  can  possibly  be  expected  by  the  most  sanguine  promoters 
of  these  Extraordinary  Methods.  We  are  in  short  ultimately 
yielding  large  supplys  to  the  Revenues  of  the  Mother  Country 
while  we  are  labouring  for  a  very  moderate  Subsistence  for  our- 
selves. But  if  our  Trade  is  to  be  curtail'd  in  its  most  valuable 
branches,  &  burdens  beyond  possible  bearings,  laid  upon  that 
which  is  suffer'd  to  remain,  we  shall  so  far  be  able  to  take  off 
the  Manufactures  of  Great  Britain,  that  it  will  be  scarce  pos- 
sible for  us  to  earn  our  Bread.  But  what  still  hightens  our 
Apprehensions  is  that  those  unexpected  proceedings  may  be  pi'e- 
paritory  to  new  Taxations  upon  us  ;  For  if  our  Trade  may  be 
taxed  why  not  our  Lands  ?  Why  not  the  produce  of  our  Lands 
and  every  Thing  we  possess  or  make  use  of  ?  This  we  appre- 
hend annihilates  our  Chai-ter  Right  to  Govern  and  Tax  our- 
selves   It  strikes  at  our  British  Privileges  which  as  we  have 


78  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

never  forfeited  them  we  hold  in  common  with  our  Fellow  Sub- 
jects who  are  Natives  of  Britain :  If  Taxes  are  laid  upon  us 
in  any  shape  without  ever  having  a  Legal  Representation  where 
they  are  laid,  are  we  not  reduced  from  the  Character  of  Free 
Subjects  to  the  miserable  state  of  tributary  Slaves 

We  therefore  earnestly  recommend  it  to  you  to  use  your  ut- 
most endeavors,  to  obtain  in  the  General  Assembly  all  neces- 
sary Instructions  and  advice  to  our  Agent  at  this  most  critical 
Juncture  that  while  he  is  setting  forth  the  unshaken   Loyalty 

of  this  Province  and  this  Town its  unrivalled  Exertions  in 

supporting  His  Majestys  Government  and  Rights  in  this  part  of 
his  Dominion — its  acknowleged  Dependance  upon  and  Subor- 
dination to  Great  Britain  and  the  ready  submission  of  its  Mer- 
chants to  all  Just  and  necessary  Regulations  of  Trade,  he  may 
be  able  in  the  most  humble  and  pressing  manner  to  remonstrate 
for  us  all  those  Rights  and  Privileges  which  Justly  belong  to  us 
either  by  Charter  or  Birth. 

As  his  Majestys  other  Northern  American  Colonys  are  em- 
bark'd  with  us  in  this  most  important  Bottom,  we  further  desire 
you  to  use  your  Endeavors,  that  their  weight  may  be  added  To 
that  of  this  Province  ;  that  by  the  united  Applications  of  all 
are  Aggrieved,  All  may  happily  obtain  Redress 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  September  18,  1765. 


To  the  Honble  James  Otis  Esq.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Gray. 
Gentlemen 

At  a  Time  when  the  British  American  Subjects  are  every 
where  loudly  complaining  of  the  arbitrary  unconstitutional  In- 
novations the  Town  of  Boston  can  not  any  longer  remain  silent 
without  Just  Imputation  and  Inexcusable  Neglect.  We  there- 
fore the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  being  legally  Assem- 
bled in  Faneuil  Hall,  to  consider  What  steps  are  necessary  for 
us  to  take  at  this  alarming  Crisis,  think  it  proper  to  communi- 
cate to  you  our  united  Sentiments,  and  to  give  you  our  Instruc- 
tions thereupon 

It  fills  us  with  very  great  Concern  to  find,  that  Measures  have 
been  Adopted  by  the  British  Ministry,  and  Acts  of  Parliament 
made,  which  press  hard  upon  our  invaluable  Rights  and  Privi- 


BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS,  1704  TO  1770.  79 

leges  and  ten  greatly  to  distress  the  Trade  <>l"  the  Province,  by 
whieh  Ave  have  heretofore  been  able  to  contribute  so  large  a 
share  towards  the  Enriching  Of  the  Mother  Country  —  But  we 
are  more  particularly  alarmed  and  astonished  at  the  Aet  called 
the  Stamp  Act,  by  which  a  very  grievous  and  we  apprehend 

unconstitutional  Tax  is  to  be  laid  upon  the  Colonies 

By  the  Royal  Charter  granted  to  our  Ancestors  the  power  of 
making  Laws  for  our  internal  Government  and  of  levying  Taxes, 
is  vested  in  the  General  Assembly :  And  by  the  same  Charter 
the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province  are  entitled  to  all  the  Rights  & 
Privileges  of  natural  free  born  Subjects  of  Great  Britain  ;  the 
most  essential  Rights  of  British  Subjects  are  those  of  being  rep- 
resented in  the  same  Body  which  exercises  the  power  of  levying 
Taxes  upon  them,  and  of  having  their  Property  tryed  by  Juries ; 
These  are  the  very  Pillars  of  the  British  Constitution,  founded 
in  the  common  Rights  of  Mankind.  It  is  certain  we  were  in  no 
sense  represented  in  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  when  this 
Act  of  Taxation  was  made  :  And  it  also  certain  that  this  Law 
admits  of  our  properties  being  tryed  in  Controversies  arising 
from  internal  concerns  by  Courts  of  Admiralty  without  a  Jury : 
It  follows  that  at  once  it  annihilate  the  most  valuable  Privi- 
leges of  our  Charter,  deprives  us  of  the  most  essential  Rights  of 
Britain  and  greatly  weakens  the  best  securities  of  our  Lives, 
Liberties  and  Estates  ;  which  may  hereafter  be  at  the  disposal 
of  Judges  who  may  be  Strangers  to  us,  and  perhaps  malicious, 
mercinary,  corrupt  and  oppressive.  But  admitting  that  we  had 
no  complaints  of  this  Nature  we  should  still  have  reason  to  ex- 
cept against  the  Inequality  of  these  Taxes  :  It  is  well  known 
that  the  People  of  this  Province  have  not  only  settled  this 
Country,  but  enlarged  and  defended  the  British  Dominion  in 
America  with  a  vast  Expence  of  Treasure  and  Blood ;  they 
have  exerted  themselves  in  the  most  distinguished  services  for 
their  King  by  which  they  have  often  been  reduced  to  the  great- 
est distress;  And  in  the  late  War  more  especially  by  their  sur- 
prizing Exertions,  they  have  brought  upon  themselves  a  Debt 
almost  insupportable ;  And  we  are  well  assured  if  these  expen- 
sive seiwices,  for  which  very  little  if  any  advantage  hath  ever 
accrued  to  themselves,  together  with  the  necessary  Charges  of 
supporting  &  defending  his  Majestys  Government  here  had  been 
duly  estimated,  the  Moneys  designd  to  be  drawn  from  us 
by  this  Act,  would  have  appeared  greatly  beyond  our  Propor- 
tion.    We  look  upon  it  as  a  peculiar  hardship,  that  when  the 


80  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Representative  Body  of  this  Province  had  prepared  and  sent 
forward  a  Decent  Remonstrance  against  these  Proceedings,  while 
they  were  depending  in  the  House  of  Commons,  it  failed  of  admit- 
tance there  :  And  this  we  esteem  the  more  extraordinary,  in  as 
much  as  heing  unrepresented,  it  was  the  only  Method  whereby 
they  could  make  known  their  Objections  to  Measures,  in  the 
Event  of  which  their  Contituents  were  to  be  so  deeply  interested. 
Moreover  this  Act  if  carried  into  Execution,  will  become  a 
further  Grieveance  to  us  as  it  will  afford  a  Precedent  for  the 
Parliament  to  Tax  us  in  all  future  Time,  and  in  all  such  Ways 
and  Measures,  as  they  shall  Judge  meet  without  our  Consent. 

We  therefore  think  it  our  indispensible  Duty  in  Justice  to 
ourselves  and  Posterity,  as  it  is  our  undoubted  Privilege  in  the 
most  open  and  unreserved,  but  decent  and  respectful  Terms  to 
declare  our  greatest  Disatisfaction  with  this  Law  ;  And  we  think 
it  incumbent  upon  you  by  no  Means  to  Join  in  any  publick 
Measures  for  countenancing  and  assisting  in  the  Execution  of 
the  same  :  But  to  use  your  best  endeavors  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, to  have  the  Inherent  unalienable  Rights  of  the  People  of 
this  Province,  asserted  and  vindicated,  and  left  upon  the  pub- 
lick  Records,  that  Posterity  may  never  have  reason  to  charge 
the  present  Times  with  the  Guilt  of  tamely  given  them  away. 

It  affords  us  the  Greatest  Satisfaction  to  hear  that  the 
Congress  proposed  by  the  House  of  Representatives  of  this 
Province,  is  consented  to  by  the  Representatives  of  most  of  the 
other  Collonies  on  the  Continent.  —  We  have  the  warmest  Ex- 
pectations from  the  united  Counsels  of  that  very  respectable 
Committee  :  And  we  may  with  the  strictest  Propriety  enjoin 
upon  Mr  Otis,  a  Member  of  the  same,  being  also  one  of  the  Rep- 
resentatives of  this  Town  to  contribute  the  utmost  of  his  Abel- 
ity,  in  having  the  Rights  of  the  Colonies  stated  in  the  clearest 
vein,  and  laid  before  the  Parliament  and  in  preparing  a  humble 
Petition  to  the  King  our  Sovereign  and  Father,  under  whose 
Gracious  Care  and  Protection,  we  have  the  strongest  Reason  to 
hope,  that  the  Rights  of  the  Colonies  in  General  &  the  particu- 
lar Charter  Rights  of  this  Province  will  be  confirmed  and  per- 
petuated. We  further  Instruct  you  to  take  particular  Care  that 
the  best  ^Economy  may  be  used  in  expending  the  public  Mon- 
eys, and  that  no  unaccustomed  Grants  may  be  made  to  those 
who  serve  the  Government  —  And  we  in  general  recommend  to 
your  Care,  that  the  Monies  of  the  Province  drawn  from  the 
Individuals  of  the  People  at  a  Time  when  almost  Every  Avenue 


IJOSTON,  MASSACMUSKTTS,   17(54  TO  1776.  81 

of  our  Trade  is  Obstructed,  may  not  be  applyed  to  any  other 
Purposes,  under  any  Pretence  of  necessary  Contingent  Charges, 
1ml-  what  are  evidently  intended  in  the  Act  for  supplying  the 
Treasury. 


To    the    Inhabitants    of    the    Town    of    Plymouth,    Harch 

24,  1766. 


Gentlemen 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally  assem- 
bled in  Faneuil  Hall  have  received  with  singular  pleasure,  your 
respectful  Address  of  the  16th.  of  January  last:  The  warm  Sen- 
timents of  public  Virtue  which  you  therein  express  is  a  sufficient 
Evidence,  that  the  most  ancient  Town  in  New  England  to 
whose  Predecessors  this  Province  in  a  particular  manner  is  so 
greatly  indebted  for  their  necessary  Aids  in  its  original  Settle- 
ment still  retain  the  truly  noble  Spirit  of  our  renowned  Ances- 
tors—  When  we  recollect  the  ardent  love  of  Religeon  and 
Liberty,  which  inspired  the  Breasts  of  those  Worthys ;  which 
induced  them  at  the  Time  when  Tyranny  had  laid  its  oppressive 
Hand  on  Church  and  State  in  their  Native  Country,  to  forsake 
their  fair  Possessions  and  seek  a  Retreat  in  this  distant  Part  of 
the  Earth  —  When  we  reflect  upon  their  early  care  to  lay  a 
soiled  Foundation  for  Learning,  even  in  a  Wilderness,  as  the 
surest  if  not  the  only  Means  of  preserving  and  cherishing  the 
Principles  of  Liberty  and  Virtue,  and  transmitting  them  to  us 
their  Posterity,  our  Mind  is  filled  with  deep  Veneration,  and  we 
bless  and  revere  their  Memory.  — - — 

When  we  consider  the  immense  Cost  and  Pains  they  were  at 
in  subduing,  cultivating,  and  settling  this  Land,  with  the  utmost 
Peril  of  their  Lives ;  and  the  Surprizing  increase  of  Dominion 
Strength  and  Riches,  which  has  accrued  to  Great  Britian  by 
their  Expence  &  Labour  we  confess  we  feel  an  honest  Indigna- 
tion to  think  there  ever  should  have  been  any  among  her  Sons, 
so  ungrateful  as  well  as  unjust  and  Cruel  as  to  seek  their 
Ruin 

Instances  of  this  too  frequently  occur  in  the  past  History  of 
our  Country :  The  Names  of  Randolph,  of  Andross  and  others 
are  handed  down  to  us  with  Infamy ;  And  the  Times  in  which 
we  live,  even  these  vei-y  Times,  may  furnish  some  future  Histo- 
rian with  a  Catalogue  of  those,  who  look  upon  our  rising  Great- 


82  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

ness  with  an  envious  Eye  ;  and  while  we  and  our  Sister  Colonies, 
have  been  exerting  our  growing  Strength  in  the  most  substantial 
services  to  the  Mother  Country,  by  Art  and  Intrigue  have  wick- 
edly attempted  to  deceive  her  into  Measures  to  enslave  us  —  If 
then  Gentlemen,  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Metropolis,  have  dis- 
covered an  invariable  Attachment  to  the  Principles  of  Liberty, 
when  it  has  been  invaded  :  If  they  have  made  the  most  vigorous 
Exertions  for  our  Country  when  she  has  been  threatned  with 
the  Loss  of  every  Thing  that  has  been  dear  :  If  they  have  used 
their  utmost  Endeavors  that  she  may  be  relieved  from  those 
Difficulties,  with  which  She  is  at  this  Time  embarrassed ;  If 
they  have  taken  the  Legal  and  warrantable  Measures  to  prevent 
that  Misfortune  of  all  others  the  most  to  be  dreaded,  the  Execu- 
tion of  the  Stamp  Act;  and  as  a  necessary  Means  of  preventing 
it,  have  made  any  Spirited  Applications  for  opening  the  Custom 
House  and  Courts  of  Justice  ;  If  at  the  same  Time  they  have 
bore  their  Testimony  against  outrageous  Tumults  and  illegal 
proceedings,  and  given  any  Example  of  the  Love  of  Peace  & 
good  order  next  to  the  consciousness  of  having  done  their  Duty 
is  the  Satisfaction  of  meeting  with  the  Approbation  of  any  of 

their  Fellow  Countrymen 

That  the  Spirit  of  our  venerable  Forefathers,  may  revive  and 
be  defused  through  every  Community  in  this  Land :  That 
Liberty  Civil  and  Religeous,  the  grand  Object  of  their  View, 
may  still  be  felt  enjoy'd  &  vindicated  by  the  present  Generation, 
and  the  fair  Inheritance,  transmitted  to  our  latest  Posterity,  is 
the  fervent  wish  of  the  Metropolis. 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  flay  26,   1766. 


To  the  Honble.  James  Otis  Esq.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  Mr. 
Samuel  Adams,  and  John  Hancock  Esq. 

Gentlemen 

The  trust  we  your  constituents  have  reposed  in  you,  by 
chusing  you  to  represent  us  in  the  approaching  general  assem- 
bly of  this  Province,  is  of  so  important  a  nature,  that  nothing 
short  of  an  intire  confidence  in  your  wisdom  and  integrity, 
could  have  prevailed  on  us  to  have  devolved  it  upon  you.  And 
although  it  is  not  customary  for  us  to  give  Instructions  to  our 
representatives,  for  their  conduct  in  all  cases,  or  upon  all  occa- 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,    1764  TO   1776.  83 

sinus,  yet  we  hold  the  right  of  so  doing,  whenever  we  think  fit 
to  be  sacred  and  unalienable.  The  present  situation  of  this 
Province  in  particular,  of  North  America  in  general,  and  of 
Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies,  as  a  Nation,  is  such,  that  not- 
withstanding our  confidence  in  your  abilities,  we  apprehend  it 
not  improper  for  us  to  give  you  our  adviee,  and  instructions 
upon  some  of  the  important  affairs  which  may  come  before  you 
in  that  assembly :  And-  we  expect  that  you  regulate  your  con- 
duct therein  accordingly 

In  the  first  place,  as  to  this  province  in  particular,  it  is  our 
advice  and  instruction,  that  you  endeavor  as  far  as  in  you  lieth, 
to  support  all  the  fundamental  laws  of  our  constitution,  and 
maintain  the  authority  of  government  upon  every  occasion. — 
That  3^ou  do  all  in  your  power  to  prevent  money,  or  any  pre- 
tence whatsoever,  being  drawn  out  of  the  publick  Treasury, 
'contrary  to  the  appropriations  thereof;  and  that  if  any  such 
drafts  should  ever  be  made,  you  bear  due  testimony  against 
it. 

That  you  be  not  persimonious  in  the  support  of  executive 
officers  of  government,  but  at  the  same  time  use  all  your  influ- 
ence against  any  one  officers  holding  two  or  more  places  incon- 
sistent or  interfering  with  each  other.  — That  you  take  partic- 
ular care  in  your  choice  of  councilers  and  other  officers  of  the 
government  for  the  ensuing  year,  that  they  be  men  of  integrity, 
and  wisdom,  lovers  of  liberty,  and  of  our  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
constitution  ;  not  giving  your  suffrage  for  any  whose  characters 
are  doubtful!,  or  who  are  of  a  timid  or  wavering  disposition.  — 
That  you  bring  forward  and  promote  such  an  order  as  shall 
make  the  debates  in  the  house  of  representatives  as  public  as 
those  in  the  House  of  Commons  in  Great  Britain  that  you  be 
very  watchful  over  our  Just  rights,  liberties  and  privileges 
And  give  us  notice  whenever  you  apprehend  them  in  danger ; 
and  for  the  total  abolishing  of  slavery  from  among  us ;  that  you 
move  for  a  law,  to  prohibit  the  importation  and  purchasing  of 
slaves  for  the  future. 

That  you  support  and  promote  the  commercial  interests  of 
this  province  on  all  occasions,  as  we  apprehend  the  prosperity 
and  increase  thereof  in  a  great  measure  depends  upon  the  flour- 
ishing State  of  its  trade  :  And  that  you  by  no  means  consent  to 
the  laying  any  unjust  burden  thereon,  ever  giving  us  the  earli- 
est notice  of  such  an  attempt.  That  you  also  encourage  hus- 
bandry in  all  its  branches,  and  that  spirit  of  industry,  frugality 


84  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  EST  TOWN  MEETING, 

and  oeconomy,  which  we  rejoice  to  find  hath  already  taken 
place,  and  so  much  increased  among  us  of  late.  —  That  you  op- 
pose any  grants  for  erecting,  maintaining,  or  garrisoning  any 
useless  or  unnecessary  Forts  or  fortresses,  in  any  part  of  this 
province ;  and  if  any  such  fortresses  be  now  garrisoned  and 
maintain'd  at  the  public  expence,  that  you  do  your  utmost  that 
such  grieveances  may  be  speedily  redressed.  That  you  at  the 
same  time  duly  support  and  encourage  our  seminaries  of  learn- 
ing, by  a  suitable  liberality  to  the  governors  and  instructors 
thereof,  more  agreable  to  the  importance  of  their  office  than  to 
the  parsimony  heretofore  observed  in  grants  for  that  purpose ; 
since  we  apprehend  that  learning  is  the  surest  support  of  our 
constitution ;    science    being   the    handmaid    of    liberty,    while 

ignorance  is  the  nurse  of  slavery. 

In  the  next  place  with  respect  to  North  America  in  general, 
it  is  our  advice  and  instruction,  that  you  keep  up  a  constant  and 
friendly  intercourse  with  the  other  English  Governments  on  the 
Continent :  That  you  conciliate  divisions  and  differences  if  any 
be  now  subsisting,  or  should  hereafter  arise  ;  ever  preferring 
their  friendship  and  confidence,  to  the  demands  of  rigorous 
Justice  without  them.  —  In  the  last  place  as  to  Great  Britain  & 
her  Colonies  as  a  Nation  —  It  is  our  advice  and  instruction,  that 
on  all  proper  occasions  you  openly  profess  our  duty  and  loyalty 
to  the  King ;  and  a  constitutional  subordination  to  parliament. 
That  you  treat  his  Majestys  Representatives,  and  all  his  other 
officers  here,  with  due  respect ;  being  at  the  same  time  vigilant 
and  Jealous,  of  our  Just  rights  liberties  and  privileges  ;  in  all 
Cases  protesting  against  and  counteracting,  with  decent  firmness 
every  attempt  in  the  least  to  abridge  or  infringe  them.  That 
you  endeavor  to  promote  that  harmony,  which  ought  ever  to 
subsist  between  Great  Britain  and  her  Colonies 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,   December  22,   1767. 


We  your  Constituents  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  being  legally  Assembled  in  Faneuil  Hall, 
and  taking  into  mature  Consideration  the  distressed  Circumstances 
of  this  Town,  by  means  of  the  amazing  growth  of  Luxury,  and 
the  Embarrassments  of  our  trade  ;  &  having  also  the  strongest 
apprehensions  that  our  invaluable  Rights  &  Liberties  as  Men  and 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   1764  TO  1776.  S.r) 

British  Subjects,  are  greatly  affected  by  a  late  Act  of  the  British 
Parliament  imposing  Duties  on  sundry  Commodities  to  he  levied 
A:  paid  in  the  Colonies,  have  thought  it  expedient  to  give  you  our 
united  sentiments  on  those  interesting  subjects;  that  you  may 
from  thence  take  encouragement  vigorously  to  pursue  such 
Measures  as  may  he  hest  calculated  to  secure  our  safety  & 
wellfare 

It  is  the  part  of  every  wise  community  at  all  times  to  encourage 
Industry  and  Oeconomy  among  themselves.  How  great  is  the 
necessity  when  pressed  with  insupportable  Debts  and  Taxes 
which  is  the  present  unhappy  state  of  this  Town  and  Province  ? 
The  late  Just  and  necessary  war,  in  which  our  Sovereign  and 
the  nation  have  been  engaged,  being  principally  seated  in  North 
America  rendred  it  the  incumbent  Duty  of  his  Majestys  faithful 
Subjects  of  these  Colonies,  to  exert  the  utmost  of  their  strength 
and  abilities  in  defence  of  his  Dominions  in  this  part  of  the 
World,  and  reducing  his  Enemies  to  terms  of  peace.  This 
Province  has  Exhibited  many  repeated  instances  of  their  readiness 
to  afford  this  aid  to  his  Majesty  which  will  be  standing  Monu- 
ments of  their  zeal  for  his  Majesties  service  &  their  affection 
to  the  Mother  State.  It  is  needless  to  recur  to  former  Instances 
even  in  the  Infancy  of  this  Province  ;  the  last  war  affords  incon- 
testable proofs  ;  when  by  their  united  exertions,  they  incurred 
a  Debt  which  is  now  an  almost  insupportable  burden,  and  will 
so. remain  for  Years  to  come.  It  is  with  concern  that  we  are 
obliged  to  say,  that  under  all  this  difficulty  our  private  Debts  to 
the  British  Merchants  have  been  increasing ;  and  our  importa- 
tions even  of  Superfluities  as  well  as  other  Articles  have  been  so 
much  beyond  the  bounds  of  prudence,  that  our  utmost  efforts  it  is 
to  be  feared,  will  not  save  us  from  inpending  ruin.  At  the  Same 
Time  our  Trade  by  which  alone  we  are  enabled  to  balance  our 
Accompts  with  Great  Britain  is  in  almost  every  branch  of  it 
burthened  with  Duties  and  Restrictions,  whereby  it  is  rendred 
unprofitable  to  us ;  and  is  indeed  in  danger  of  being  totally 
obstructed  &  ruined.  In  such  a  deplorable  situation  we  warmly 
recommend  to  you  Gentlemen  to  exert  your  selves  in  promoting 
every  prudent  Measure  which  may  be  proposed  to  put  a  stop  to 
that  profusion  of  Luxury,  so  threatning  to  the  Country ;  to 
encourage  a  spirit  of  Industry  and  frugality  among  the  people, 
and  to  establish  Manufactures  in  the  Province.  We  conceive 
that  diverse  Manufactures  may  be  set  up  to  great  advantage, 
particularly  those  of  Iron,  Glass,  Paper,  Linnen  &°.  and  there- 


86     STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN"  MEETING, 

fore  we  think  it  highly  necessary  that  they  should  be  encouraged 
by  suitable  Bounties.  Hemp  and  Flax  are  the  natural  produce 
of  our  Lands,  and  many  new  discoveries  may  be  made  of  the 
Productions  of  the  Country,  which  we  have  Just  reason  to 
expect  you  will  attend  to,  as  they  will  be  the  necessary  Means 
of  lessoning  our  Forreign  Imports,  enabling  us  to  discharge  the 
Debts  we  have  already  Contracted  abroad,  &  freeing  us  from  the 
Obligation  of  contracting  at  least  so  largely  for  Time  to  come. 
We  cannot  conclude  this  head  without  observing  to  you,  that  the 
excessive  use  &  consumption  of  spirituous  Liquors  requires  your 
particular  care  to  discountenance;  as  it  is  Destructive  to  the 
Morals  as  well  as  the  Health  and  substance  of  the  People ; 
rendering  them  incapable  of  labor,  and  tending  to  erace  from  the 
Mind,  the  sentiments  of  Virtue,  and  a  disposition  to  Industry. 

As  we  have  nothing  more  at  heart  than  to  maintain  a  lasting 
and  perpetual  friendship  &  union  with  the  People  of  Great 
Britain  who  are  our  Fellow  Subjects,  we  rely  upon  it  that  you 
will  at  all  Times  readily  Join  in  any  Measures  tending  to  culti- 
vate and  establish  it.  Using  your  best  endeavors  to  circumvent 
&  frustrate  the  designs  of  those  who  would  create  Jealousies  and 
forment  Divisions  between  us.  At  the  same  Time  it  is  your 
incumbent  Duty  carefully  to  inspect  such  Acts  of  Parliament  as 
are  or  shall  be  passed  to  be  binding  on  the  Colonies ;  the  pru- 
dence and  even  necessity  of  which  will  appear  when  it  is  con- 
sidered that  we  are  not  and  cannot  be  Represented  in  the  Par- 
liament which  passeth  such  Laws ;  and  consequently  the  only 
step  that  can  be  taken  by  those  who  alone  legally  Represent 
us,  is  to  point  out  such  inconveniences,  as  by  reason  of  our  great 
distance  from  the  Supreme  Legislative  of  the  Nation  may  and  in 
all  probability  will  sometimes  arise  from  such  Laws,  in  order  that 
they  may  be  remidied.  And  we  upon  this  Occasion  strictly 
enjoin  upon  you  to  use  your  influence  that  the  nature  and  tend- 
ency of  the  late  Act  of  Parliament  imposing  Dutys  upon  Paper, 
Glass  &c.  may  be  the  Subject  of  enquiry  in  the  House  of 
Representatives.  The  design  of  this  Act  we  perceive  is  to  raise 
a  Revenue  out  of  the  Colonies  for  the  support  of  his  Majestys 
Government,  and  to  defend  and  secure  his  Majestys  Territories. 
As  this  Revenue  is  to  be  raised  out  of  our  property,  it  is  imma- 
terial to  us  by  what  mode  the  Taxes  are  to  be  levied,  or  by  what 
Name  they  are  called.  It  is  without  controversy  the  natural 
right  of  every  Man,  and  the  constitutional  Right  of  every  British 
Subject  solely  to  dispose  of  his  own  property  either  by  himself 


UOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS,  17G4  TO  1770.  S? 

in  Person,  or  by  his  Representatives  of  his  own  i'vcr  Election. 
If  therefore  the  People  of  This  Province  are  by  nature  and  by 
the    Royal   Charter  entitled  to  all  the  Rights  of  natural  born 

Subjects,  as  without  doubt  they  are,  it  is  certain  that  all  Prop- 
erty taken  from  them,  by  any  manner  or  way  without  their  con- 
sent must  be  an  infringement  of  their  natural  and  Constitutional 
liights,  and  it  is  a  point  of  the  utmost  consequence  to  us;  For 
what  Liberty  could  any  Man  be  supposed  to  have,  if  another  have 
a  right  to  demand  of  him  any  part  of  his  earnings,  and  by  con- 
sequence the  whole  if  he  pleases  ?  Besides  the  appropriation  of 
the  Moneys  to  be  raised  by  this  Act  we  humbly  apprehend  it  to 
be  Just  matter  of  grievance  to  us,  in  as  much  as  we  are  thereby 
deprived  of  that  honor  which  is  the  pride  of  British  Subjects  of 
testefying  our  alacrity  in  supporting  his  Majesties  Officers  in  the 
several  Departments  of  Government,  as  well  as  of  the  privilege 
of  taking  into  Consideration  our  own  ability  and  the  merit  of 
their  Services.  Moreover  the  Act  in  its  opperation  will  further 
discourage  our  Trade,  already  sinking  under  its  pressures  & 
difficulties.  And  it  is  worth  your  particular  notice  that  it  has 
ever  been  the  policy  of  Great  Britain  to  lay  the  Colonies  under 
the  necessity  of  purchasing  her  own  Manufactures  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  all  others,  which  obliges  us  to  purchase  such  Articles  as 
we  have  nead  of  at  an  advanced  price  :  and  this  alone  we  appre- 
hend would  be  sufficient  to  exempt  us  from  any  additional 
Charges  or  Duties  upon  them  here,  even  it  were  not  inconsistent 
with  our  natural  and  constitutional  Rights  ;  especially  when  it 
is  considered,  that  by  our  consumption  of  their  Manufactures, 
the  price  of  them  is  greatly  advanced,  the  Manufactures  in- 
creased in  number  and  wealth  and  enabled  to  pay  a  larger 
proportion  towards  the  public  and  National  Charges,  and  the 

value  of  their  Lands  is  also  greatly  enhanced 

We  therefore  upon  the  whole  Instruct  you  to  endeavor  that 
in  the  most  humble  dutiful  and  loyal  terms  such  representations 
may  be  made  to  our  most  gracious  King,  of  our  Constitutional 
&  Charter  Rights  —  of  our  unrivalled  Loyalty  &  Affection  to 
his  Person,  Family  &  Government.  Of  our  acknowledged  Con- 
stitutional subordination  to  the  supreme  Legislative  power  of 
the  Nation,  and  of  the  hardships  &  grieveances  which  lye  upon 
us  under  the  opperation  of  the  said  Act,  together  with  such 
humble  supplication  to  his  Majesty,  as  may  prevail  upon  him 

graciously  to  recommend  its  Repeal 

Much  Respected  Sir 


88  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

To  the  Author  of  the  "Farmer"  Letters,  flarch  22,  1768. 


When  the  Rights  and  Liberties,  of  the  numerous  and  Loyal 
Inhabitants  of  this  extensive  Continent  are  in  imminent  Danger 
— when  the  inveterate  Enemies  of  these  Colonies  are  not  more 
assideous  to  forge  Fetters  for  them,  then  deligent  to  delude  the 
People,  and  to  persuade  them  to  an  indolent  Acquiescence:  At 
this  alarming  Period,  when  to  Reject  is  deemed  to  Revolt,  and 
to  oppose  such  Measures  as  are  injudicious  and  destructive,  is 
construed  as  a  formal  Attempt  to  subvert  Order  and  Govern- 
ment; when  to  Reason  is  to  Rebel;  and  a  ready  submission  to 
the  Rod  of  Power,  is  solicited  by  the  Tenders  of  Place  & 
Patronage,  or  urged  by  the  menace  of  danger  and  disgrace;  Tis 
to  you  worthy  Sir!  that  America  is  obliged  for  a  most  season- 
able, sensible  loyal  &  vigorous  Vindication  of  her  invaded 
Rights  &  Liberties:  Tis  to  you  the  distinguished  Honor  is  due; 
that  when  many  of  the  Friends  of  Liberty  were  ready  to  fear 
its  utter  Subversion:  Armed  with  Truth,  supported  by  the  im- 
mutable Laws  of  Nature,  the  common  Inheritance  of  Man,  and 
leaning  on  the  Pillars  of  the  British  Constitution;  you  season- 
ably brought  your  Aid,  opposed  impending  Ruin.  Awakened 
the  most  indolent  and  inactive  to  a  sense  of  danger,  reanimated 
the  hopes  of  those,  who  had  before  exerted  themselves  in  the 
Cause  of  Liberty,  and  instructed  America  in  the  best  means  to 
obtain  Redress. 

Nor  is  this  Western  World  alone  indebted  to  your  Wisdom, 
Fortitude  and  Patriotism;  Great  Britain  also  may  be  confirmed 
by  you,  that  to  be  truly  great  and  successful  she  must  be  Just: 
That  to  Oppress  America  is  to  violate  her  own  Honours,  defeat 
her  brightest  Prospects,  and  contract  her  spreading  Empire 

To  such  eminent  Worth  and  Virtue  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  the  Capitol  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Hay  in  full  Town  Meeting  Assembled,  express  their  earliest 
Gratitude:  Actuated  themselves  by  the  same  generous  Principles, 
which  appear  with  so  much  Lustre  in  your  useful  Labours,  they 
will  not  fail  warmly  to  recommend,  and  industriously  to  pro- 
mote that  Union  among  the  several  Colonies,  which  is  so  indis- 
pensably necessary  for  the  security  of  the  whole 

Tho:  such  superior  Merit,  must  assuredly  in  the  closest  Recess, 
enjoy  the  divine  satisfaction  of  having  saved  &  possibly  saved 


BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS,   1 704  TO   L776.  89 

this  People;  tho'  vield  from  our  view,  you  modestly  shun  the 
deserved  applause  of  Millions;  permit,  us  to  intrude  upon  your 
Retirement,  and  salute  the  Warmer  as  the  Friend  of  Ameri- 
cans, and  the  common  Benefactor  of  Mankind 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  June   17,    1768. 


To  the  Honble.  James  Otis  &  Thomas  dishing  Esqrs.  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Adams,  and  John  Hancock  Esq. 

After  the  Repeal  of  the  late  American  Stamp  Act,  we  were 
happy  in  the  pleasing  prospect  of  a  restoration  of  that  tranquility 
and  unanimity  among  ourselves,  and  that  harmony  &  affection 
between  our  Parent  Country  and  us,  which  had  generally  sub- 
sisted before  that  detestable  Act.  But  with  the  utmost  grief  and 
concern  we  find  that  we  flatter' d  ourselves  too  soon,  and  that  the 
root  of  bitterness  is  yet  alive  The  principle  on  which  that  Act 
was  founded  continues  in  full  force,  &  a  Revenue  is  still  de- 
manded from  America. 

We  have  the  mortification  to  observe  one  Act  of  Parliament 
after  another,  passed  for  the  express  purpose  of  raising  a  Rev- 
enue from  us;  to  see  our  money  continually  collecting  from  us, 
without  our  consent,  by  an  authority  in  the  constitution  of 
which  we  have  no  share,  and  over  Which  we  have  no  kind  of 
influence  or  controul;  to  see  the  little  circulating  Cash  that  re- 
mained among  us  for  the  support  of  our  trade,  from  time  to  time 
transmitted  to  a  distant  Country,  never  to  return,  or  what  in  our 
estimation  is  worse  if  possible,  appropriated  to  the  maintainance 
of  swarms  of  Officers  and  Pensioners  in  idleness  and  luxury, 
whose  example  has  a  tendency  to  corrupt  our  morals,  and  whose 
arbitrary  dispositions  will  trample  upon  our  rights 

Under  all  these  misfortunes  and  afflictions,  however,  it  is  our 
fixed  resolution  to  maintain  our  loyalty  and  duty  to  our  most 
gracious  Sovereign,  a  reverence  and  due  subordination  to  the 
British  Parliament  as  the  supreme  Legislative  in  all  cases  of  ne- 
cessity, for  the  preservation  of  the  whole  Empire,  and  our  cordial 
and  sincere  affection  for  our  Parent  Country,  and  to  use  our 
utmost  endeavors  for  the  preservation  of  peace  &  order  among 
ourselves  :  Waiting  with  anxious  expectation  for  a  favourable 
answer  to  the  Petitions  and  sollicitations  of  this  Continent  for 
Relief  —  at  the  same  Time  it  is  our  unalterable  resolution,  at  all 


90  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

times  to  assert  and  vindicate  our  dear  and  invaluable  Rights  and 
Libertys,  at  the  utmost  hazard  of  our  lives  and  fortunes;  and  we 
have  a  full  and  rational  confidence,  that  no  design  formed  against 
them  will  ever  prosper. 

That  such  designs  have  been  formed  and  are  still  in  being  we 
have  reason  to  apprehend.  A  multitude  of  Placemen  and  Pen- 
sioners, and  an  enormous  train  of  Underlings  and  Dependants, 
all  novel  in  this  Country  we  have  seen  already :  Their  inju- 
rious temper,  their  rash  inconsiderate  &  weak  behavior,  are  well 
known 

In  this  situation  of  affairs  several  armed  Vessels  and  among 
the  rest  his  Majesty's  Ship  of  War  the  Romney,  have  apj>eared 
in  our  Harbor;  and  the  last  as  we  believe  by  the  express  appli- 
cation of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  with  design  to  over  awe 
and  terrify  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  into  base  compliances, 
and  unlimitted  submission,  has  been  anchored  within  a  Cables 
length  of  the  Wharves. 

But  passing  over  other  irregularities,  we  are  assured,  that  the 
last  alarming  act  of  that  Ship  —  Viz'.  —  the  violent  and  in  our 
opinion  illegal  seizure  of  a  Vessel  lying  at  a  Wharff,  the  cutting 
of  her  forts,  &  removing  Her  with  an  armed  force  in  hostile 
manner,  under  the  protection  of  the  Kings  Ships,  without  any 
probable  cause  of  seizure  that  we  know  of,  or  indeed  any  cause 
that  has  as  yet  been  made  known;  no  Lible  or  prosecution 
whatever  having  yet  been  instituted  against  her,  was  by  the 
express  Order  or  request  in  writing  of  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners to  the  Commander  of  that  Ship 

In  addition  to  all  we  are  continually  allarmed,  with  rumors  & 
reports  of  new  revinue  Acts  to  be  passed,  new  importations  of 
Officers  and  Pensioners  to  suck  the  life  blood  of  the  body  poli- 
tick, while  it  is  streaming  from  the  Veins ;  fresh  arrivals  of  ships 
of  war  to  be  a  still  severer  restraint  upon  our  trade;  and  the  ar- 
rival of  a  military  force  to  dragoon  us  into  passive  obedience; 
orders  and  requisitions  transmitted  to  New  York,  Hallifax  and  to 
England,  for  Regiments  and  Troops  to  preserve  the  public 
peace. 

Under  the  distresses  arising  from  this  state  of  things,  with  the 
highest  confidence  in  your  integrity  abilities  &  fortitude,  you  will 
exert  yourselves  Gentlemen  on  this  occasion,  that  nothing  may 
be  left  undone  that  may  conduce  to  our  relief ;  and  in  particular 
we  recommend  it  to  your  consideration  and  discretion  in  the  first 
place  to  endeavor  that  Imj^resses  of  all  kinds  may  if  possible  be 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1776.  1)  L 

prevented.  There  is  an  Act  of  Parliament  being  which  has 
never  been  repealed,  for  the  encouragement  of  the  trade  to 
America.  We  mean  the  6:  of  Anne  Chap.  37.  Sect.  9.  it  is 
enacted.  "  That  no  Marriner  or  other  Person  who  shall  serve  on 
"  hoard  or  be  retained  to  serve  on  board,  any  Privateer  or  trad- 
"  ing  Ship  or  Vessel  that  shall  be  imployed  in  any  part  of 
"  America,  nor  any  Mariner  or  other  Person  being  on  shore  in 
"  any  part  thereof,  shall  be  liable  to  be  impressed  or  taken  away 
"  by  any  Officer  or  Officers  of  or  belonging  to  any  of  her  Ma- 
"  jesty's  Ships  of  War,  impowered  by  the  Lord  High  Admiral, 
"  or  any  other  Person  what  soever,  unless  such  Mariner  shall 
"  have  before  disserted  from  such  Ship  of  War  belonging  to  her 
"  Majesty,  at  any  time  after  the  14.  of  February  1757  upon  pain 
"  that  any  Officer  or  Officers  so  impressing  or  causing  to  be  im- 
"  pressed  or  taken  away  any  Mariner  or  other  Pei'son  contrary 
"  to  the  tenor  &  true  meaning  of  This  Act,  shall  forfeit  to  the 
"  Master  or  Owner  or  Owners  of  any  such  Ship  or  Vessel  twenty 
"  pounds  for  every  Man  he  or  they  shall  so  impress  or  take  to 
"  be  recovered  with  full  costs  of  Suit  in  any  Court  within  any 
"  part  of  her  Majesty's  Dominions  "  so  that  any  Impresses  of 
any  mariner,  from  any  Vessel  whatsoever,  appears  to  be  in 
direct  violation  of  an  Act  of  Parliament 

In  the  next  place  its  our  desire  that  you  enquire  and  use  your 
endeavors  to  promote  a  Parliamentary  enquiry  for  the  Authors 
and  propogators  of  such  alarming  rumors  and  reports  as  we 
have  mentioned  before  ;  &  whether  the  Commissioners  or  any 
other  Person  whatever  have  really  wrote  or  solicited  for  Troops 
to  be  sent  here  from  N  York  Hallifax  England  or  elsewhere, 
and  for  what  end  ;  and  that  you  forward  if  you  think  it  expe- 
dient, in  the  House  of  Representatives  resolutions  that  every 
such  Person,  who  shall  solicite  or  promote  the  importation  of 
Troops  at  this  time,  is  an  Enemy  to  this  Town  and  Province, 
and  a  disturber  of  the  peace  and  good  order  of  both. 


Resolutions,  September  13,   1768. 


Whereas  it  is  the  first  Principle  in  Civil  Society,  founded  in 
Nature  and  Reason,  that  no  Law  of  the  Society  can  be  binding 
on  any  Individuals,  without  his  Consent,  given  by  himself  in 
Person,   or  by  his   Representative   of  his   own  free   Election  : 


92  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

And  whereas  in  and  by  an  Act  of  the  British  Parliament  passed 
in  the  First  Year  of  the  Reign  of  King  William  and  Queen 
Mary,  of  glorious  and  blessed  Memory,  entitled  an  Act  declaring 
the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  the  Subject,  and  Settling  the  Suc- 
cession of  the  Crown  ;  the  Preamble  of  which  Act  is  in  these 
words  —  viz*.  "  Whereas  the  late  King  James  the  Second,  by 
the  assistance  of  diverse  evil  Councillors,  Judges  and  Ministers 
employed  by  him,  did  endeavor  to  subvert  &  exterpate  the 
Protestant  Religeon,  and  the  Laws  and  Liberties  of  this  King- 
dom "  It  is  expressly  among  other  Things  declared,  That  the 
levying  Money  for  the  use  of  the  Crown,  by  Pretence  of  Pre- 
rogative, without  Grant  of  Parliament  for  a  longer  Time  or  in 
other  manner  than  the  same  is  granted,  is  illegal.  And  whereas 
in  the  Third  Year  of  the  Reign  of  the  same  King  William  & 
Queen  Mary,  their  Majestys  were  graciously  pleased,  by  their 
Royal  Charter  to  give  and  grant  to  the  Inhabitants  of  His 
Majestys  Province,  all  the  Territory  therein  discribecl,  to  be 
holden  in  free  and  common  Soccage  :  And  also  to  Ordain  & 
Grant  to  the  said  Inhabitants  certain  Rights,  Liberties  and 
Privileges  therein  expressly  mentioned ;  among  which  it  is 
Granted  established  and  Ordained,  that  all  and  every  the  Sub- 
jects of  them  their  Heirs  &  Successors,  which  shall  go  to  Inhabit 
within  said  Province  and  Territory,  and  every  of  their  Children 
which  shall  happen  to  be  born  there,  or  on  the  Seas  in  going 
thither,  or  returning  from  thence,  shall  have  &  enjoy  all  Liber- 
tes  and  Immunities  of  free  and  natural  Subjects,  within  any  of 
the  Dominions  of  them,  their  Heirs  and  Successors,  to  all  intents 
Purposes  and  Constructions  whatever,  as  if  they  and  every  of 
them,  were  born  within  the  Realm  of  England  : 

And  whereas  by  the  aforesaid  Act  of  Parliament  made  in  the 
first  Year  of  the  said  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  all  and 
singular  the  Premisses  contained  therein,  are  claimed  demanded 
&  Insisted  on  as  the  undoubted  Rights  &  Liberties  of  the  Sub- 
jects born  within  the  Realm  : 

And  whereas  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  this 
Town  the  Metropolis  of  the  Province  in  said  Charter  mentioned, 
do  hold  all  the  Rights  &  Liberties  therein  contained  to  be 
sacred  &  inviolable  At  the  same  Time  publickly  and  solemnly 
acknowledging  their  firm  and  unshaken  Allegiance  to  their  alone 
and  rightful  Sovereign  King  George  the  Third,  the  lawful  Suc- 
cessor of  the  said  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  to  the  British 
Throne  — — 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,    170  1  TO   1770.  93 

Resolved  That  the  said  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  «>t'  Boston,  will  at  the  utmost  peri]  <>t"  their  Lives  & 
Fortunes  take  all  legal  and  constitutional  measures  to  defend 
and  maintain  the  Person  Family,  Crown  and  Dignity  of  our 
said  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third  ;  and  all  and  singular 
the  Rights,  Liberties,  Privileges  &  Immunities  granted  in  the 
said  Royal  Charter,  as  well  as  those  which  are  declared  to  be 
belonging  to  us  as  British  Subjects  by  Birth  right,  as  all  others 
therein  specially  mentioned. 

And  whereas  by  the  said  Royal  Charter  it  is  specially  granted 
to  the  Great  &  General  Court  or  Assembly  therein  constituted, 
to  impose  and  levy  proportionable  and  reasonable  Assessments, 
Rates  &  Taxes  upon  the  Estates  and  Persons  of  all  and  every 
the  Proprietors  &  Inhabitants  of  said  Province  or  Territory, 
for  the  Service  of  the  King  in  the  necessary  defence  and  sup- 
port of  his  Government  of  this  Province,  &  the  protection  and 
preservation  of  his  Subjects  therein,  therefore 

Voted,  as  the  Opinion  of  this  Town  ;  that  the  levying  Money 
within  this  Province  for  the  use  and  service  of  the  Crown,  in 
other  manner  than  the  same  is  granted  by  the  Great  &  General 
Court  or  Assembly  of  this  Province  is  in  violation  of  the  said 
Royal  Charter ;  and  the  same  is  also  in  violation  Of  the 
undoubted  natural  Rights  of  Subjects,  declared  in  the  aforesaid 
Act  of  Parliament,  freely  to  give  and  grant  their  own  Money 
for  the  service  of  the  Crown,  with  their  own  consent,  in  Person, 
or  by  Representatives  of  their  own  free  Election 

And  whe?'eas  in  the  aforesaid  Act  of  Parliament  it  is  declared 
That  the  raising  or  keeping  a  standing  Army,  within  the  King- 
dom in  time  of  peace,  unless  it  be  with  the  consent  of  Parlia- 
ment, is  against  Law;  It  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Town;  that  the 
said  Declaration  is  founded  in  the  indefeaseble  Right  of  the 
Subjects  to  be  consulted;  and  to  give  their  free  Consent  in 
Person,  or  by  Representatives  of  their  own  free  Election  to  the 
raising  &  keeping  a  standing  Army  among  them;  and  the  In- 
habitants of  this  Town  being  free  Subjects,  have  the  same  Right 
derived  from  Nature  &  confermed  by  the  British  Constitution, 
as  well  as  the  said  Royal  Charter;  and  therefore  the  raising  or 
keeping  a  standing  Army,  without  their  consent  in  Person  or 
by  Representatives  of  their  own  free  Election,  would  be  an  in- 
fringement of  their  natural,  constitutional  and  Charter  Rights; 
and  the  employing  such  Army  for  the  enforcing  of  Laws  made 
without  the  consent  of  the  People,  in  Person,  or  by  their 
Representatives  would  be  a  Grievance. 


94  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  flay  8,  1769. 


To  the  Honble.  James  Otis  &  Thomas  dishing  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams,  &  John  Hancock.  Esq. 
Gentlemen 

You  have  once  more  received  the  highest  Testimony  of  the 
Confidence  and  Affection  of  your  Constituents,  which  the  Con- 
stitution has  impowered  them  to  exhibit;  The  Trust  of  Repre- 
senting them  in  the  Great  and  General  Court  or  Assembly  of 
this  Province.  This  important  Trust  is  committed  to  you  at  a 
Time  when  your  Country  demands  the  exertion  of  all  your 
Wisdom,  Fortitude  and  Virtue;  and  therefore  it  is  presumed  a 
free  Communication  of  our  Sentiments  cannot  but  be  agreable 
to  you 

The  first  Object  of  your  attention  is  the  Privilege  of  that 
Assembly  of  which  you  are  now  chosen  to  be  Members.  The 
Debates  there  must  be  free :  You  will  therefore  exert  yourselves 
to  remove  every  thing  that  may  carry  the  least  appearance  of 
an  Attempt  to  awe  or  intimidate.  As  the  Assembly  is  called  to 
set  in  the  usual  place,  common  Decency,  as  well  as  the  Honor 
and  Dignity  of  a  free  Legislative,  will  require  a  removal  of 
those  Cannon  and  Guards,  as  well  as  that  clamorous  Parade 
which  has  been  dayly  round  the  Court  House  since  the  arrival 
Of  his  Majestys  Troops;  and  at  some  times  while  the  highest 
Courts  of  Judicature  has  been  setting  there  on  the  tryal  even  of 
Capitol  Causes — When  this  Grievance  shall  be  removed,  and 
the  Debates  of  the  Assembly  shall  be  free,  it  will  be  natural  to 
enquire  into  all  the  Grievances  we  have  suffered  from  the  Mili- 
tary Power;  Why  they  have  been  quartered  in  the  Body  of  this 
Town,  in  contradiction  to  the  express  words,  and  as  we  conceive 
the  manifest  intention  of  an  Act  of  Parliament;  Why  the 
Officers  who  have  thus  violated  our  Rights,  have  not  been  called 
to  account,  and  dealt  with  as  the  Law  required:  Whether  the 
Measure  taken  by  the  Governor  of  the  Province  in  appointing 
an  extraordinary  Officer  to  provide  Quarters  for  the  Troops,  was 
not  an  evasion  of  the  Act  of  Parliament  made  for  the  Billeting 
and  quartering  his  Majestys  Troops  in  America  (the  professed 
rule  of  their  Conduct)  and  design'd  to  Elude  the  Clause  of  said 
Act  purposely  pi-oviding  for  the  convenience  of  American  Sub- 
jects and  their  Security  against  an  excess  of  Military  power  : 
Why  the   repeated  offences   and  Violences   committed   by  the 


BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS,   1704  TO  1770.  95 

Soldiery,  against  the  peace,  and  in  open  Defiance  and  Contempt 
of  the  Civil  Majcstrate  and  t lie  Laws  have  excaped  punishment 
in  the  Courts  of  Justice:  And  whether  the  Attorney  General 
has  not  in  some  late  Instances,  unduly  exercised  a  power  of 
entring  "-Nolle  prosequi"  upon  Indictments  without  the  Con- 
currance  of  the  Court  in  obstruction  to  the  course  of  Justice 
and  to  the  great  Encouragement  of  Violence  and  Oppres- 
sion.  

And  as  the  quartering  of  Troops  here  has  proved  the  Occasion 
of  many  Evils,  we  do  earnestly  recommend  to  you  to  use  your 
utmost  endeavours  for  a  speedy  removal  of  them. 

Should  the  Expence  that  has  been  incurred  in  providing 
Barracks  for  the  Troops,  and  supplying  them  with  Necessaries, 
be  required  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  we  do  in  the  most 
solemn  and  express  manner  enjoin  you,  by  no  means  to  comply 
with  such  a  Requisition.  If  the  General  Court  is  a  free 
Assembly  no  Power  upon  Earth  has  Authority  to  compel  it  to 
pay  this  Money.  Should  it  ever  be  deprived  of  its  freedom,  it 
shall  never  with  our  Consent  be  made  An  Engine  to  drain  us 
of  the  little  Money  we  have  left.  Another  Object  of  great 
Importance,  and  which  requires  your  earliest  attention,  is  a  late 
fragrant  and  formal  Attack  upon  the  Constitution  itself :  An 
Attempt  not  only  to  deprive  us  of  the  Liberteis  Privileges  & 
Immimities  of  our  Charter,  but  the  Rights  of  British  Subjects. 
We  have  seen  Copies  of  Letters  published  here  authenticated  by 
the  Clerk  of  the  Papers  to  the  Honble :  House  of  Commons,  the 
Contents  of  which  must  have  awakened  the  Jealously  of  the 
Country  —  the  Design  of  the  Writer  is  sufficiently  apparent : 
And  considering  his  Station  as  Representative  of  the  first  Per- 
sonage in  the  Empire,  and  the  rank  of  the  Minister  to  whom 
he  Addressed  himself,  we  cannot  wonder  that  Credit  has  been 
given  to  his  Letters  in  Great  Britain  and  that  they  have  already 
produced  Effects  alarming  to  the  Colonies  &  dangerous  to  both 
Countrys.  It  is  therefore  requested  that  you  use  the  whole 
Influence  you  may  have  that  the  injurious  impressions  which 
they  have  unhappily  made,  may  be  removed  and  that  an 
effectual  Antidote  may  be  Administred,  before  the  Poison  shall 
have  wrought  the  Ruin  of  the  Constitution. 

It  is  unnecessary  for  us  at  this  Time  to  repeat  our  well  known 
Sentiments  concerning  the  Revenue,  which  is  continually  levied 
upon  us,  to  our  great  Distress,  and  for  no  other  end  than  to  sup- 
port a  great  Number  of  very  unnecessary   Placemen   and  Pen- 


96  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

sioners.  We  have  only  to  add  that  our  Sentiments  upon  this 
Subject  are  in  no  respect  changed  ;  and  we  expect  that  you  pur- 
sue with  firm  Resolution,  and  unremitted  Ardor,  every  Measure 
that  may  tend  to  procure  us  Relief  ;  Never  yeilding  your  Con- 
sent to,  or  Connivance  at  the  least  encroachment  on  our 
Rights. 

Next  to  the  Reveune  itself  the  late  Extension  of  the  Jurisdic- 
tion of  the  Admiralty,  are  our  greatest  Grievance,  The  Ameri- 
can Courts  of  Admiralty  seem  to  be  forming  by  Degrees  into  a 
System  that  is  to  overturn  our  Constitution,  and  to  deprive  us 
intirely  of  our  best  Inheritance,  the  Law  of  the  Land.  It 
would  be  thought  in  England  a  dangerous  Innovation  *if  the 
Tryal  of  any  Matter  upon  Land,  was  given  to  the  Admiral :  It 
would  be  thought  more  threatning  still  If  the  power  of  Confis- 
cation, over  Ships  and  Cargoes  for  Illicit  Trade  was  committed 
to  that  Court  —  But  if  the  Forfeitures  of  Ships  &  Cargoes, 
large  Penalties  upon  Masters,  and  such  exhorbitent  Penalties 
as  the  treble  value  of  Cargoes,  upon  every  Person  concerned 
in  landing  unaccustomed  Goods,  were  by  Act  of  Parliament 
appointed  to  be  tryed  by  the  Admiral,  the  Nation  would  think 
their  Liberties  irrecoverably  lost. 

This  however  is  the  miserable  Case  of  North  America.  In 
the  41.8  of  the  Statute  of  the  4.  of  George  III  Chapr.  15.  We 
find  "  that  all  the  Forfeiture  &  Penalties  inflected  by  this  or 
"  any  other  Act  of  Parliament,  relating  to  the  Trade  and 
"  Revenues  of  the  British  Colonies  or  Plantations  in 
"  America,  which  shall  be  incurred  there  may  be  presented, 
"  sued  for  and  recovered  in  any  Court  of  Admiralty  in  the 
"  said  Colonies  "  —  That  those  extraordinary  Penalties  &  For- 
feitures are  to  be  heard  and  tryed  —  not  by  a  Jury  —  not  by 
the  Law  of  the  Land  but  by  the  Civil  Law  and  a  single  Judge  ! 
Unlike  the  Antiente  Parrons  who  answered  with  one  voice 
"  We  will  not  that  the  Laws  of  England  be  changed  which  of 
old  have  been  used  and  improved,"  the  Barrons  of  Modern 
Times  seem  to  have  answered,  that  they  are  willing  those  Laws 
should  be  changed  with  regard  to  America  ;  in  the  most  tender 
point  and  fundamental  Principle  ! 

And  this  hardship  is  the  most  severe  as  we  see  in  the  same  Page 
of  the  Statutes,  and  the  Section  immediately  preceding  "  that 
all  Penalties  and  Forfeitures  which  shall  be  incurred  in  Great 
Britain,  shall  be  prosecuted  Sued  for  and  recovered,  in  any  of 
his  Majestys  Courts  of  Record  in  Westminster,  or  in  the   Court 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   1704  TO  1770.  1)7 

of  Exchequer  in  Scotland  respectively."  Here  is  a  Contrast  that 
stares  ns  in  the  Face !  A  partial  distinction  that  is  made 
between  the  Subjects  in  Great  Britain  and  the  Subjects  in 
America  !  the  Parliament  in  one  Section  guarding  the  People 
of  the  Realm  and  securing  to  them  the  benefit  of  a  tryal  by 
Jury  and  the  Law  of  the  Land,  and  by  the  next  Session  depriv- 
ing Americans  of  those  important  Rights  —  Is  not  this  distinc- 
tion a  brand  of  disgrace  upon  every  American  a  Degradation 
Below  the  Rank  of  an  English  Man  ?  Is  it  not  with  respect  to 
us  a  Repeal  of  the  29  Chapr.  of  Magna  Charta  "  JVo  Free- 
man shall  be  taken  and  Imprisoned,  or  Deprived  of  his  Free- 
hold or  Liberties,  or  free  Customs,  or  Outlawed  and  exhiled, 
or  any  otherwise  destroyed,  nor  will  we  pass  upon  him  nor 
condem  him,  but  by  lawful  Judgment  of  his  Piers  or  the  Law 
of  the  Land?  "  Englishmen  are  inviolably  attached  to  the  Im- 
portant Right  expressed  in  this  Clause,  which  for  many  Cen- 
teeris  has  been  the  noblest  Monuments  and  fermest  Bulwark  of 
their  Liberties.  One  proof  of  his  Attachement,  given  us  by  a 
great  Sage  of  the  Law,  we  think  proper  to  mention,  not  for 
your  Information,  but  as  the  best  expression  of  the  sense  of  your 
Constituents.  "  Against  this  Ancient  and  Fundamental  Law, 
and  in  the  Face  thereof  says  Lord  Coke  L  find  on  Act  of 
Parliament  made,  that  as  well  .Justices  of  Assize,  as  Justice 
of  Peace,  without  any  finding  or  presentment  of  twelve  Men, 
upon  a  bare  Lnformation  for  the  King  before  them  made 
should  have  full  power  and  Authority  by  their  discretions  to 
hear  and  try  Men  for  Penalties  and  Forfeitures^  His  Lord- 
ship after  mentioning  the  Repeal  of  this  Statute,  and  the  fate 
of  Empson  &  Dudley,  who  received  the  full  weight  of  the 
National  Vengeance  for  acting  under  it,  concludes  with  a  Re- 
flection which  if  well  Considered,  might  be  sufficient  to  dis- 
courage such  Attacks  upon  Fundamental  Principles.  "  The  ill 
Success  of  this  Statute  and  the  fearful  end  of  those  two 
Opressors,  should  deter  others  from  committing  the  like,  and 
should  admonish  Parliaments,  that  instead  of  this  ordinary 
and  precious  Tryal  by  the  Law  of  the  Land,  they  bring  not 
in  absolute  &  partial  Trials  by  discretion.  —  Such  are 
the  feelings  and  Reflections  of  an  English  Man,  upon  a 
Statute  not  unlike  the  Statute  now  under  Consideration,  and 
upon  Courts  and  Judges  not  unlike  the   Courts   &  Judges  of 

Admirality  in  America. 

The  formidable  power  of  these  Courts  and  their  distressing 


98  STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Course  of  Proceedings  have  been  severely  felt  within  the  Year 
past  ;  many  of  your  Fellow  Citizins  having  been  worn  out 
with  Attendance  upon  them,  in  defence  against  Information  for 
extravagant  &  enormous  Penalties.  And  we  have  the  highest 
Reason  to  fear  from  past  Experiences  That  if  no  Relief  is  ob- 
tained for  us,  the  Properties  &  Liberties  of  this  unhappy 
Country,  and  its  Morals  too,  will  be  ruined  by  these  Courts,  and, 
the  Persons  employed  to  support  them. 

We  therefore  earnstly  recommend  to  you,  by  every  legal 
Measure  to  endeavor  that  the  power  of  these  Courts  may  be 
confined  to  their  proper  Element,  according  to  the  antient  Eng- 
lish Statutes  ;  and  that  you  Petition  &  Remonstrate  against  the 
late  Extension  of  their  Jurisdictions ;  and  we  doubt  not  the 
other  Colonies  and  Provinces  who  suffer  with  us  under  them, 
will  cheerfully  harmonize  with  this  in  every  Justifiable  Measure 
that  may  be  taken  for  a  Redress 

We  need  not  here  take  Occasion  to  Instruct  you,  that  while 
you  in  the  most  ample  manner  testify  your  loyalty  to  our  gra- 
cious Sovereign,  you  will  strenuously  assert  &  maintain  the 
Right  of  the  Subject  Jointly  or  severally  to  Petition  the  King  ; 
or  to  declare  it  as  our  clear  opinion,  that  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  any  one  Province  has  an  undeniable  Right,  when- 
ever a  Just  Occasion  shall  offer,  to  communicate  their  Senti- 
ments upon  a  common  concern  to  the  Assembly  of  any  or  all 
the  other  Colonies,  and  to  unite  with  them  in  humble  dutiful  & 
loyal  Petitions  for  Redress  of  a  general  Grivance 


To  Vindicate  the  Town,  October   18,    1769. 


The  Town  of  Boston  having  by  the  generous  care  of  William 
Bollan  Esq.  formerly  a  very  worthy  Inhabitant  in  it,  but  now  a 
Resident  in  London,  received  authentick  copies  of  Letters  Memo- 
rials &c.  written  by  Governor  Bernard,  General  Gage,  Commo- 
dore Hood^  the  Commissioners  of  the  American  Board  of  Cus- 
toms, and  others,  and  laid  before  the  Parliament ;  which  con- 
tain many  base  insinuations  and  virulent  charges  of  an  high 
nature  against  the  Town  :  The  Freeholders  and  inhabitants 
in  a  legal  Town  Meeting  assembled  for  the  jmrpose,  have  con- 
sidered the  same.  As  they  have  not  yet  been  favoured  with  the 
particular  vouchers  :  if  indeed  these  Gentlemen  have   produced 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  177(5.  99 

any  to  the  Ministry  Before  whom  they  laid  tlieir  accusations, 
it  cannot  be  expected  they  should  be  enabled  to  make  so  full  a 
vindication  of  the  Town  as  otherwise  they  might:  They  have 
however  endeavoured  to  extract  from  those  writings,  so  far  as 
the  Town  is  concerned  in  them,  and  to  lay  before  the  publick 
their  true  spirit:  From  whence  it  will  appear  how  restless, 
Governor  Bernard  &  his  Associates  have  been  in  their  malicious 
intrigues  to  traduce  not  this  Town  and  Province,  alone,  but  the 

whole  British  American  Continent. 

In  his  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Shelburne,  dated  March  19.  1768 
he  tells  his  Lordship  that  "  he  sees  such  an  opposition  to  the 
Commissioners  and  their  Officers,  and  such  a  defyance  to  the 
Authority  by  which  they  are  appointed,  continually  growing, 
that  he  can  no  longer  excuse  his  informing  his  Lordship  of  the 
detail  of  facts,  from  whence  the  most  dangerous  consequeuces 
are  to  be  expected "  —  It  is  observable  here,  how  artfully  he 
connects  an  opposition  to  the  Commissioners  with  a  defiance  of 
the  authority  by  which  they  are  appointed ;  and  this  with  an 
apparent  design  to  represent  this  Town  as  disaffected  to  his 
Majestys  Government  in  general,  than  which  nothing  can  be 
more  false  and  malicious.  That  the  People  should  entertain 
the  highest  disgust  of  a  Board,  instituted  to  superintend  a  Rev- 
enue to  be  raised  from  them  without  their  consent,  which  was 
and  still  is  exacted  with  the  utmost  rigor,  is  natural;  after  they 
had  so  loudly  as  well  as  Justly  complained  of  the  Revenue 
itself,  as  depriving  them  of  the  very  idea  of  liberty  :  But  it  can- 
not be  said  with  the  least  appearance  of  truth  that  they  set  at 
defiance  the  Kings  authority,  at  the  very  time  when  they  were 
actually  yielding  obedience  to  those  Revenue  laws,  under  all 
the  hardships  of  them,  and  were  patiently  waiting  for  the  happy 
issue  of  their  Just  complaints,  and  their  humble  petitions  to 
their  Sovereign  for  the  redress  of  their  Grievances  —  The  Com- 
missioners had  however  at  that  time  surely  no  reasonable 
grounds  to  expect  any  injury  to  their  Persons  or  interruption 
in  their  Office  ;  for  they  had  been  more  than  four  months  in  the 
Town,  without  the  least  danger  of  this  kind,  although  they  had 
from  their  first  arrival  discovered  Such  an  arrogance  an  insolence 
of  Office  as  let  many  Persons  to  apprehend  that  they  aimed  at 
nothing  less  than  provoking  the  People  to  such  a  degree  of 
intemperance  as  to  make  an  appearance  of  it.  But  being  disap- 
pointed in  this,  more  shifts  &  pretensions  are  to  be  sought  after  ; 
and  accordingly  we   find  Mr.   Bernard  begining  his  detail  :  to 


100        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

his  Lordship  with  telling  him  there  had  been  "  frequent  reports 
of  insurrections  intended,  in  which  it  had  been  said,  the  Houses 
of  one  or  more  of  the  Commissioners  were  to  be  pulled  down  " 
The  Governor  it  is  to  be  observed  relies  much  upon  Reports  in 
his  Letters  even  to  Ministers  of  State,  while  few  if  any  among 
us  ever  heard  of  such  Reports :  He  does  not  so  much  as  attempt 
to  make  it  appear  to  his  Lordship  that  these  frequent  Reports 
were  brought  to  him  by  Persons  of  credit  or  that  they  were 
well  grounded ;  and  it  is  very  much  to  be  questioned,  whether 
he  received  his  intelligence  from  any  other  Persons  than  the 
Commissioners  themselves,  their  Dependents  &  Expectents,  the 
number  of  whom  are  increased  to  an  enormous  degree,  more 
than  sufficient  to  devour  the  whole  Revenue,  and  many  of  them 
are  of  the  most  abandoned  characters.  But  to  give  a  colouring 
to  these  Ideas  of  an  Insurrection,  there  must  be  something 
more  alledged  than  barely  that  there  had  been  frequent  Re- 
ports of  its  being  intended ;  and  therefore  his  Lordship  is  told 
of  an  event  which  in  fact  took  place  as  some  few  remember,  but 
the  story  is  wrought  up  by  the  Governor  with  all  the  strokes  of 
masterly  invention  to  serve  the  purpose  "A  number  of  Lads 
says  he  peraded  the  Town  with  a  Drum  and  Horn  "  And  what 
possible  harm  could  there  be  in  that?  Why  among  other  Houses, 
"  they  passed  by  the  Council  Chamber  when  he  was  Sitting  in 
Council "  And  did  they  stop  to  insult  the  Governor  and  Council  ? 
Such  a  circumstance  would  doubtless  have  embellished  his  Ex- 
cellencies Narrative.  There  passing  by  however  carried  the  air  of 
an  insult,  tho'  in  all  likelihood  the  unlucky  Boys  might  not  know 
that  his  Excellency  was  there  —  But  they  had  "  assembled  before 
M1'.  Paxtons  House  "  and  least  it  should  be  forgot  his  Lordship 
is  reminded  that  Mr.  Paxton  is  a  "  Commissioner  "  —  And  did 
they  do  Mr.  Paxton  the  Commissioner  any  injury,  yess  truly 
"  they  buzzard "  &  went  off  then  they  "invested  Mr.  Burchs 
House  "  And  his  Lordship  is  also  told  ThatMr.  Burch  is  "  another 
Commissioner  "  — and  "  his  Lady  &  Children  were  obliged  to 
go  out  of  the  back  door  to  avoid  the  danger  that  was  threatned  " 
So  that  they  were  not  threatned  with  mischief,  but  with  danger 
only.  It  has  been  usual  for  the  Commissioners  to  affect  an 
apprehension  of  danger  to  themselves  and  their  Families,  to 
serve  the  purposes  they  had  in  view.  There  is  indeed  no 
accounting  for  the  real  fears  of  Women  and  Children :  The 
Ladys  however  can  sometimes  vie  with  their  Husbands  in 
intrigue,  and  are  thoroughly  versed  in  the  art  even  of   political 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO   1770.  101 

appearance.  And  it  is  said  that  all  are  Politicians  in  this 
Country:  Whether  this  Lady  whom  Governor  Bernard  has 
politely  ushered  into  the  view  of  the  public,  really  thought  her- 
self in  danger  or  not,  it  is  incumbent  on  him  to  show  that  there 
were  Just  grounds  for  her  apprehensions,  that  Mr.  Burch's 
House  was  in  fact  "  invested  '•'  and  that  "  the  most  dangerous 
consequences  were  to  be  expected  "  The  World  may  be  assured 
there  was  not  the  least  appearance  of  this  kind  ;  and  yet,  these 
are  Mr.  Bernards  own  declarations  to  his  Majestys  Ministers, 
grounded  upon  vague  and  idle  Reports,  beneath  one  of  his  rank 
and  station  to  take  any  notice  of,  and  especially  with  a  design 
to  misrepresent.  He  expresses  a  surprize  and  surely  he  must 
counterfeit  it,  that  this  matter  of  "  the  parade  with  the  Drum 
and  Horn  "  was  after  all  treated  as  the  diversion  of  a  few  Boys, 
as  it  is  still  thought  to  have  been  by  all  who  can  remember  so 
triffling  an  occurrance,  except  the  Governor  and  his  Adherents 
— ■  the  diversion  of  a  few  innocent,  tho'  perhaps  vulgar  Boys> 
who  neither  did  nor  intended  to  do  the  least  harm  to  them  or 
any  other  persons,  nor  were  they  able  to  effect  it  if  they  had 
such  a  design.  But  after  this  says  Mr.  Bernard  "  it  was  reported 
that  .the  insurrection  was  postponed  till  the  18th.  of  March  " 
the  idea  is  still  kept  up  of  a  designed  insurrection,  how  else 
could  it  be  postponed  and  "  two  Persons  says  he,  one  of  them 
Mr.  Paxton  a  Commissioner  was  mentioned  as  devoted  to  the 
resentment  of  a  Mob "  It  is  strange  no  Person  should  have 
heard  of  all  this  but  the  Governor  and  his  Informers  for  he 
tells  his  Lordship  that  "  he  took  all  the  pains  he  could  to  dis- 
cover the  truth  of  this  Report ;  "  and  "  on  the  very  day  before 
he  spoke  with  The  most  knowing  Men  he  could  procure,"  who 
had  heard  nothing  about  the  matter.  At  length  however  "  late 
in  the  Evening  he  had  certain  advice  that  the  Effigies  were 
prepared,  but  it  was  too  late  to  do  any  thing,  &  his  information 
was  of  that  nature,  he  could  not  make  use  of  it  in  public  "  To 
induce  his  Lordship  however  to  believe  that  the  Reports  of  the 
Insurrection  which  was  postponed  to  the  18  of  March,  with 
every  circumstance  as  Just  now  related,  were  well  grounded,  he 
tells  him  as  if  it  was  designed  to  be  the  prelnde  to  the  whole, 
that  "  early  in  the  Morning  the  Sheriff  informed  him  that  the 
Effigies  of  Mr.  Paxton  and  Mr.  Williams  were  in  truth  hanging 
upon  Liberty  Tree  !  "  There  was  in  the  time  of  it  a  strong  sus- 
pician  in  the  minds  of  many  that  their  Effigies  were  hung  up  by 
some  particidar  persons  on  that  day  (which  was  to  be  observed 


102        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

as  a  day  of  festivity)  with  a  design  to  give  a  colouring  to  Just 
such  a  representation  as  Governor  Bernard  now  makes.  There 
are  persons  here  capable  of  playing  such  a  game  ;  and  there  are 
some  circumstances  which  make  it  appear  that  such  a  suspician 
was  not  groundless  Particularly  it  is  difficult  to  account  for  Gov- 
ernor Bernards  neglecting  to  give  orders  to  prevent  their  being 
hung  up  after  he  certainly  knew  it  was  intended  ;  and  that  he 
should  pretend  it  was  too  late  the  Evening  before  ;  but  especially 
his  not  chusing  to  make  use  of  his  information,  or  it  may  rather 
be  supposed  his  Informants  name  in  public,  unless  it  was  thro' 
fear  of  discovering  the  plot,  is  dark  and  unaccountable  —  if 
there  was  a  design  of  this  nature  it  must  have  been  truly  morti- 
fying to  those  who  were  in  the  street,  that  the  design  was  so 
soon  frustrated  ;  For  before  the  Governor  could  meet  his  Coun- 
cil which  he  had  prudently  "  the  day  before  summoned  to  meet  " 
and  while  he  was  "  sending  round  to  get  them  together  as  soon 
as  possible  it  might  be ;  amidst  all  these  careful  preparations, 
the  Effigies  says  the  Governor  "  were  taken  down  by  some  of 
the  Neighbours  without  opposition"!  There  being  thus,  per- 
haps unexpectedly,  taken  down,  is  sufficient  to  evence  the  good 
disposition  of  the  Inhabitants  in  general :  That  they  were  not  in 
the  plan  of  an  insurrection  vihoever  else  might  be,  and  that  the 
Governor  therefore  might  with  safety  if  he  had  been  so 
inclined  make  use  of  his  information  in  public  —  It  might  pos- 
sible indeed  have  totally  ovei'thrown  his  design  in  writing  this 
very  Letter  to  his  Lordship.  But  the  best  improvement  is  to  be 
made  of  every  appearance  :  Accordingly  the  Governor  hastens 
to  his  Council,  who  were  then  met  agreable  to  his  appointment 
the  Day  before,  and  there  he  tells  his  Lordship  he  "  set  forth 
in  strong  terms  the  atrociousness  of  this  insult ;  the  danger  of 
its  being  followed  by  actual  violence,  and  the  necessity  there 
was  of  providing  for  the  peace  of  the  Toum"  However  attro- 
cious  the  insult  might  be,  where  could  be  the  danger  of  its 
being  followed  with  actual  violence,  when  some  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants themselves  had  taken  down  the  Effigies,  with  at  least  the 
tacit  consent  of  the  whole  Community  ;  for  it  was  done  without 
the  opposition  expected,  perhaps  hoped  for  ;  And  what  neces- 
sity of  providing  for  the  peace  of  the  Town,  when  the  people 
already  discovered  so  peaceable  a  disposition.  It  would  doubt- 
less have  pleased  the  Governor  well,  if  his  Council  had  advised 
to  some  severe  measures ;  such  as  might  have  afforded  a  former 
foundation  for  him  to  have  represented  the  Town  upon  the    eve 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1704  TO  1776.  I  (I.1) 

of  an  insurrection,  than  groundless  reports  ami  iml'ormutions, 
from  his  own  pimps  which  it  \v:is  not  prudent  for  him  to  make 
use  of  in  public.  But  "all  he  could  say"  to  that  purpose  tho' 
he  strove  hard  for  it,  "made  qo  impression  on  the  Council" 
They  say  he  "  presevered  in  treating  the  affair  as  of  no  conse- 
quence,"  as  well  they  might;  for  its  questionable  after  all, 
whether  there  was  the  least  apprehension  then  of  any  communi- 
cation even  in  the  mind  of  the  Governor  himself  Avhatever 
was  his  pretensions.  The  Commissioners  however  took  this 
opportunity  of  "  setting  forth  the  danger  they  apprehended  ;  " 
and  the  Governor,  very  readily  no  doubt,  took  the  occasion  to 
acquaint  the  Kings  Minister  that  he  received  a  Letter  from  the 
Commissioners  "  desiring  the  protection  of  the  Government ." 

Mr.  Bernard  proceeds  in  his  Narrative,  and  entertains  his 
Lordship  with  a  very  minute  account  of  the  celebration  of  the 
Anniversary  of  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act;  and  "the  terrible 
night  it  produced  "  —  to  Mr.  Burch  one  of  the  Commissioners 
and  his  Lady  &  Children  who  had  moved  to  his  House  for  safety ; 
"  to  the  Luivetenant  Governor  and  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  who 
were  also  with  him  "  And  in  fine  to  all  "  those  who  thought 
themselves  Objects  of  the  popular  Fury.'''1  It  may  be  here  ob- 
served as  in  general  true,  that  no  Man  has  reason  to  fear  the 
popular  fury,  but  he  who  is  conscious  to  himself  of  having  done 
that  which  has  exposed  him  to  the  Just  resentment  —  The  Gov- 
ernor himself  owns  that  "  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  "  and  "  some 
others"  and  even  the  Gentlemen  who  dined  at  two  Taverns  near 
the  Townhouse  upon  the  occasion  of  the  day  "  took  great  pains 
that  the  festivity  should  not  produce  a  Riot.  "  There  is  no  reason 
to  suppose  this  was  mentioned  for  the  sake  of  giving  a  credit  to 
any  of  those  Gentlemen,  but  rather  to  insinuate  that  the  People 
were  so  outrageously  disposed  as  that  they  could  not  be  re- 
strained even  by  their  own  Leaders ;  for  most  of  those  whom 
the  Governor  has  honoured  with  that  character  were  present. 
The  truth  is  none  of  them  were  apprehensive  that  their  festivity 
would  produce  a  riot ;  but  they  were  careful  to  prevent  the 
lighting  a  Bonfire,  because  the  Governor  had  constantly  repre- 
sented that  as  "  the  signal  for  a  Mob  ;  "  and  the  Joys  of  the  Even- 
ing among  the  lower  sort  which  however  innocent  are  sometimes 
noisy,  would  of  course  be  represented  as  riotous.  And  thus 
he  did  in  fact  represent  it  to  his  Lordship  for  he  tells  him  that 
"  many  hundreds  of  People  of  all  kinds  sexes  and  ages,  paraded 
the  streets  with  yells  and  outcrys  "  —  That  they  "  invested  Mr. 


104        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Williams  House  "  —  That  "  at  two  different  times  about  midnight 
they  made  outcrys  about  Mr.  Paxtons  house."  And  tho'  after 
all  he  owns  it  was  "  out  of  mere  wantoness "  yet  he  says  the 
whole  made  it  a  terrible  night."  This  is  painting  indeed,  much 
beyond  the  life:  But  Mr.  Bernard  has  the  art  in  perfection. 
He  could  not  however  perswade  even  General  Gage,  to  give  it 
such  a  colouring ;  for  the  General  in  his  letter  to  Lord  Hills- 
borough dated  Boston  the  31st.  of  October  1768,  tells  his  Lord- 
ship quite  otherwise;  and  that  "  according  to  the  best  information 
he  had  been  able  to  procure,  the  disturbance  in  March  (which 
was  this  very  instance)  far  from  being  "  terrible  as  the  Governor 
represents  it,  was  in  truth  "  triffling.  "  This  being  the  account 
given  by  one  of  the  principal  servants  of  the  Crown  in  America, 
and  who  has  discovered  himself  far  from  being  partial  in  favor  of 
the  Town,  it  is  needless  to  add  any  thing  further  on  this  head  — 
Triffling  as  indeed  this  "  disturbance  "  was,  such  improvements 
were  made  of  it  by  Governor  Bernard  &  others,  that  it  occasioned 
the  ordering  two  Regiments  from  Hallifax  to  this  Town  for  a 
purpose  for  which  the  military  power  was  certainly  never  de- 
signed :  A  very  dangerous  purpose,  and  abhorrent  to  the  British 
Constitution  and  the  spirit  of  a  free  Government,  namely  to  sup- 
port the  Civil  Authority  —  A  measure  which  has  caused  contin- 
ual terror  to  his  Majestys  peaceable  subjects  here,  and  has  been 
productive  of  more  disturbance  &  confusion  than  has  been 
known  in  the  memory  of  any  now  living,  or  than  is  recorded  by 

any  historian,  even  the  most  partial  against  the  country. 

We  shall  now  take  notice  of  Governor  Bernards  Letter  to  the 
Earl  of  Hillsborough,  dated  Boston  June  11  1768,  wherein  he 
gives  his  Lordship  an  account  "  of  a  great  riot  that  happened  in 
this  Town  the  preceeding  Evening."  and  it  must  be  confessed 
there  was  a  riot  on  that  evening,  which' is  by  no  means  to  be 
Justified.  It  was  however  far  from  being  so  great  a  one  as  the 
Governor  represents  it  to  be  —  The  Collector  and  Comptroller  of 
the  Customs  indeed  represent  it/ as  a  "  numerous  Mob  "  but  they 
being  particularly  interested,  their  fears  might  deceive  them.  — 
It  was  not  a  numerous  Mob ;  nor  was  it  of  long  continuance, 
neither  was  there  much  mischief  done.  It  was  occasioned  by 
the  unprecedented  &  lawful  manner  of  seizing  the  Vessel  by  the 
Collector  and  Comptroler  :  And  considering  their  illegal  pro- 
ceedings in  making  the  seizure,  attended  with  the  most  irritating 
circumstances  which  occasioned  the  Mob  —  the  intolerably 
haughty  behavior  which  the  Commissioners  who  ordered  this 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1776.  105 

seizure,  had  constantly  before  discovered  toward  the  people 
the  frequent  threats  whirl)  had  been  given  out,  that  the  Town 
should  he  put  under  a  military  government,  and  the  armed  force 
actually  imployed  as  a  prelude  to  it,  it  cannot  be  wonder'd  at, 
that  in  a  populous  Town,  such  high  provocations,  and  the  sudden 
exertion  of  lawful  power,  should  excite  the.  resentments  of  some 
persons  beyond  the  bounds  of  reason,  and  carry  them  into 
excess.  —  We  cannot  state  the  circumstances  of  this  affair  with 
greater  impartiality,  than  by  reciting  the  Sentiments  of  his 
Majestys  Council  after  two  days  enquiry  and  consideration,  in 
their  own  expressions  Viz*.  —  "  His  Excellency  having  laid  before 
the  Board  a  representation  of  some  transactions  relating  to  and 
in  consequence  of  the  disorders  in  the  town  of  Bostown  on  the 
evening  of  the  10  of  June  last,  the  Board  The  Board  think  it 
necessary  in  Justice  to  the  Town  and  Province,  and  in  vindica- 
tion of  themselves,  to  make  some  observations  thereon,  and  to 
give  a  fuller  Representation  than  is  contained  in  the  paper  laid 
before  the  Board.  "  With  regard  to  the  said  disorders  it  is  to 
be  observed  that  they  were  occasioned  by  the  making  a  seizure 
(in  a  manner  unprecedented)  in  the  Town  of  Boston  and  the  said 
tenth  of  June,  a  little  before  Sunset  when  a  Vessel  was  seized  by 
several  of  the  Officers  of  the  Customs ;  and  immediately  after  on 
a  signal  given  by  one  of  said  Officers,  in  consequence  of  a  pre- 
concerted plan,  several  armed  Boats  from  the  Romney  Man  of 
War  took  possession  of  her,  cut  her  fasts  and  carried  her 
from  the  Wharff  where  she  lay  into  the  Harbour,  along  side 
the  Romney  which  occasioned  a  number  of  people  to  be  col- 
lected, some  of  whom  from  the  violence  &  unprecidentedness 
the  proceedure  with  regard  to  the  taking  away  of  the  said 
Vessel,  &  the  reflection  thereby  implyed  upon  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  as  disposed  to  rescue  any  seizure  that  might  be 
made,  took  occasion  to  abuse  &  insult  the  said  Officers,  and 
afterwards  to  break  some  of  the  windows  of  their  dwelling 
houses,  and  to  commit  other  disorders.  Now  tho'  the  Board 
have  the  utmost  abhorrence  of  all  such  disorderly  proceedings, 
and  would  by  no  means  attempt  to  Justify  them,  they  are 
obliged  to  mention  the  occasion  of  them,  in  order  to  shew,  that 
however  culpable  the  said  disorderly  persons  were,  the  Officers 
who  seized,  or  those  by  whose  orders  such  unusual  &  violent 
measures  as  were  pursued  in  seizing  and  taking  away  the  said 
vessel,  were  not  faultless :  It  being  highly  probable  that  no  such 
disorders  would  have  been  committed  if  the  vessel  had  not  been 


106    STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

with  an  armed  force,  and  with  many  circumstances  of  insult  and 
threats,  carried  away  from  the  wharff." 

The  Council  further  say,  "  with  regard  to  what  happened  on 
the  10  of  June  it  seems  to  have  sprung  wholly  from  the  persons 
who  complain  of  it,  by  the  plan  laid  and  the  orders  given  for 
making  the  Seizure  aforesaid  ;  and  carrying  it  away  by  an 
armed  force.  Which  circumstances  together  with  the  time  of 
day  of  seizing  the  Vessel,  makes  it  seem  probable  that  an  up- 
roar was  hoped  for  and  intended  to  be  occasioned  by  the  manner 
of  proceedure  in  making  the  seizure." 

From  this  impartial  state  of  the  matter,  it  must  Evidently  ap- 
pear to  every  candid  mind,  that  the  opposition  was  made,  not  at 
all  to  the  seizing  of  the  Vessel  by  the  Officers  of  the  Customs 
but  wholly  to  the  manner  in  which  it  was  secured ;  and  that  if 
it  had  been  done  in  the  usual  manner  as  the  Council  afterwards 
said,  "  it  would  have  remained  secure  in  the  hands  of  the 
Officers "  —  this  corresponds  with  the  Commissioners  own 
account ;  for  they  say  in  their  letter  to  Governor  Bernard,  June 
12  that  they  received  a  verbal  message  from  the  people  to  the 
following  purpose,  "  that  if  the  Sloop  seized  was  brought  back 
to  Mr.  Hancocks  Wharff,  upon  security  given  to  answer  the 
prosecution,  the  Town  might  be  kept  quiet."  But  this  pacifick 
proposal  though  brought  to  them  as  they  acknowledge  "  by  a 
person  of  credit,"  they  expressly  declare  "  appeared  to  them  as 
a  menace,"  and  it  was  in  fact  one  of  their  very  reasons  for  re- 
questing the  Governor  to  give  directions  that  they  might  be 
received  into  the  Castle  for  protection  —  So  totally  regardless 
were  they  of  the  peace  of  the  Town,  and  so  excessively  fond  of 
being  thought  by  others  as  important  as  they  fancied  themselves 
to  be,  that  when  this  reasonable  and  timely  proposal  was 
brought  to  them  even  by  a  person  of  Credit  in  their  own 
esteem,  they  haughtily  reply'd  "  that  they  gave  no  answers  to 
verbal  messages  "  which  plainly  indicated  either  a  wantonness 
of  power  in  them  beyond  all  bounds,  or  the  hopes  if  not  the  in- 
tention of  a  further  uproar. 

Governor  Bernard  tells  his  Lordship  that  this  Riot  "  had  very 
bad  consequences,"  which  is  undoubtedly  true  :  The  exagger- 
ated accounts  which  he  and  the  Commissioners  gave  of  it  to  the 
Ministry,  and  their  taking  occasion  to  represent  the  Town  itself 
as  in  a  state  of  disobedience  to  all  law  and  authority,  and 
indeed  the  whole  Continent  as  ripe  of  a  revolt,  were  attended 
with  the  worst  of  consequences  to  the  Town.     The  Commis- 


BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS,  1704  TO  1770.  107 

sinners  say  in  plain  terms  that  "there  had  been  a  long  and  ex- 
tensive plan  of  resistance  to  the  authority  of  Great  Britain  " 
and  that  k'  the  Seizure  referred  to"  had  hastened  tlie  people  of 
Boston  to  the  commission  of  actual  violence  sooner  than  was  in- 
tended." Such  inflamatory  representations  as  these  had  the 
effects  which  they  had  long  wished  for  ;  and  induced  the  Minis- 
try to  order  two  other  Regiments  to  this  Town  ;  the  conse- 
quence of  which  it'  they  or  any  Of  them  are  continued,  it  is  to 
be  feared,  far  from  reconciling  the  people  to  the  present 
measures  of  Administration,  will  only  increase  their  discontent, 

and  even  alienate  their  Affections. 

The  Governor  in  the  Postcript  to  his  Letter  June  13  mentions 
his  having  intelligence  from  the  Commissioners  of  some  partic- 
ulars form  whence  they  concluded,  that  they  were  immediately 
exposed  to  further  violences,  and  desired  protection  at  the 
Castle  —  This  intelligence  is  contained  in  their  letter  of  June 
12  Just  now  mentioned,  wherein  they  take  upon  themselves  to 
charge  the  Government  with  having  used  no  measures  for  se- 
curing the  peace  of  the  Town,  alledging  in  general  terms  that 
"there  was  the  strongest  reason  to  expect  further  violences," 
and  they  further  say,  that  "  his  Excellency  himself  had  ac- 
quainted them  that  Boston  teas  noplace  of  safety  for  them.'''' 
Here  we  see  that  the  intelligence  which  the  Governor  repre- 
sents to  his  Lordship  as  having  been  received  by  him  from  the 
Commissioners,  he  first  communicated  to  them ;  and  thereupon 
they  grounded  their  pretended  fears  in  their  Letter  to  him,  and 
desire  the  protection  of  the  Government.  This  is  all  of  a 
peace,  and  may  serve  to  explain  the  frequent  rumors  of  an  in- 
surrection, mentioned  in  a  former  letter,  and  from  what  quarter 
these  frequent  rumours  came.  It  shows  the  Combination,  and 
the  settled  design,  of  the  Governor  and  the  Commissioners  to 
blacken  the  character  of  the  Town  ;  and  how  dexterously  they 
can  play  into  each  other  hands  —  The  Governor  the  next  Day 
June  13  wrote  to  the  Commissioners,  and  acquainted  them,  that 
having  communicated  their  Letter  of  the  twelfth  to  the  Coun- 
cil, they  desired  him  to  inform  them  that  during  the  sitting  of 
the  Council  on  Satturday  Morning,  there  was  no  reason  at  all 
given  to  expect  further  violences,  and  that  there  was  no  appre- 
hension either  in  the  Governor  or  the  Council  of  an  immediate 
danger."  It  is  incumbent  on  the  Governor  or  his  friend  if  he 
has  any,  to  reconcile  this  with  what  he  had  before  told  the 
Commissioners  "  that  Boston  was  no  place  of  safety  for  them." 


108         STATE  PAPEES  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

It  seems  Governor  Bernard  was  perpetually  teizing  the  Council 
with  the  Commissioners  vague  reports  of  an  insurrection,  and 
of  the  danger  they  were  in ;  and  indeed  it  appears  to  be  the 
main  point  in  view  to  perswade  the  Council  if  possible  into  the 
belief  of  it,  or  if  not,  to  form  a  complaint  to  the  Ministry  that 
they  were  negligent  of  their  duty  in  not  advising  to  proper 
measures  for  the  Protection  of  the  Commissioners ;  and  from 
thence  to  enforce  a  necessity  of  military  force  to  restore  and 
support  Government  in  Boston  —  Why  did  he  not  lay  before 
the  Governor  the  particulars  which  he  tells  his  Lordship  he 
had  received  from  the  Commissioners,  from  whence  they  con- 
cluded that  they  were  exposed  to  further  violences  ?  This  we 
hear  nothing  of ;  perhaps  the  intelligence,  like  that  which  he 
mentions  in  a  former  Letter  "  was  of  such  a  nature  as  that  he 
could  not  make  use  of  it  in  publick."  He  indeed  tells  the  Com- 
missioners that  he  had  informed  the  Council  of  their  present 
apprehensions  of  further  violences,  and  that  they  were  then 
taking  the  same  into  consideration."  — ■  But  he  should  have 
fairly  represented  this  matter  to  the  Commissioners,  and  told 
them  that  the  Council  had  already  taken  the  same  into  consid- 
eration, and  come  to  a  conclusion  as  in  fact  they  had ;  for  by 
their  own  minutes  we  find  that  "the  matter  being  fully  debated 
it  appeared  to  the  Board,  that  there  was  no  immediate  danger 
of  fresh  disturbances  "  they  at  the  same  time  advised  that  the 
matter  should  be  laid  before  the  General  Court  then  sitting,  and 
postponed  the  consideration  of  it  by  them  as  of  Council  to  the 
Governor,  till  the  effect  of  such  a  proposal  should  be  known. 
All  this  the  Govornor  knew  ;  how  then  could  he  consistently 
say  they  were  then  taking  into  consideration  ?  He  tells  Lord 
Hillsburrough  that  "  he  was  against  the  business  being  laid 
before  the  General  Court  but  was  obliged  to  give  it  up  "  ;  and 
that  "  he  had  many  objections  to  the  measure."  We  knew  very 
well  that  the  drawing  this  matter  into  open  day  light,  would 
effectually  defeat  his  design  ;  and  that  the  intention  of  bringing 
the  Council,  if  possible  to  Join  with  the  Governor  in  requiring 
the  military  force,  or  accusing  them  of  negligence  in  case  they 
did  not,  would  thereby  be  intirely  frustrated  —  The  removing 
the  business  to  the  General  Court,  he  tells  his  Lordship  was 
however,  upon  one  consideration  not  "  intirely  to  his  dissatis- 
faction "  for  he  says  it  was  not  then  in  a  great  measure  "  taken 
out  of  his  hands  "  ;  and  he  concludes  that  "  as  he  cannot  con- 
duct this  business  as  it  ought  to  be,"  or  rather  as  he  chose  it 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   1701  TO  1776.  100 

should  be,  "  it  may  be  best  Eor  him  to  have  but  little  hand  in 
it."  —  It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  recite  the  declaration  of  his 
Majesty s  Council  at  a  full  Hoard  on  the  29th.  of  July,  six  Weeks 
after  the  Commissioners  voluntary  exile  to  the  Castle  in  conse- 
quence of  these  pretended  apprehensions  of  Further  violences. 
The  Council  say  "the  Commissioners  were  not  obliged  to  quit 
the  Town  ;  there  never  had  been  any  insult  ever  offered  to 
them  ;  their  quitting  the  Town  was  a  voluntary  act  of  their 
own ;  we  do  not  apprehend  there  was  any  sufficient  ground  for 
their  quitting  it,  and  when  they  had  quitted  it,  and  were  at  the 
Castle,  there  was  no  occasion  for  Men  of  War  to  protect  them." 
Such  an  authority  will  no  doubt  be  deemed  sufficient  to  vindi- 
cate the  Town  from  this  aspersion  ;  especially  as  the  Council 
had  then  had  time  cooly  to  recollect  the  matter :  As  they  had 
born  their  full  testimony  against  the  disorders,  and  taken  every 
step  which  belonged  to  their  department,  to  bring  the  Offenders 
to  condign  punishment :  But  more  especially  as  that  very  Board 
had  always  before  Supported  the  Governors  measures  to  the 
utmost  extent  that  their  consciences  would  allow,  and  many 
times  against  the  general  sentiments  of  the  people,  for  which 
they  had  gained  the  Governors  applause,  and  his  particular 
recommendation  to  his  Majestys  Minister,  and  he  himself  could 
at  this  time  have  no  other  exception  to  any  part  of  their  con- 
duct, but  their  opposition  to  his  favorite  plan  to  introduce  a 
military  Government  into  the  Town,  without  the  least  colour  of 
necessity,  and  thereby  to  break  through  the  mounds,  and  tear 

up  the  very  foundation  of  the  civil  constitution. ■ 

The  Governor  in  his  Letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  of  the  14th 
June  being  resolved  to  give  his  Lordship  an  exact  detail  of  every 
occurrance  "  from  whence  the  most  dangerous  consequences  are 
to  be  expected,"  take  occasion  to  mention,  "  a  paper  stuck  up 
on  Liberty  Tree  "  this  paper  he  has  said  in  his  letter  of  the  13 
contained  "  an  invitation  of  the  Sons  of  liberty  to  meet  at  six 
O'Clock  to  clear  the  land  of  the  vermin  which  were  come  to 
devour  them "  A  very  innocent  if  not  laudable  proposal,  for 
which  the  Country  should  think  itself  obliged  to  them,  to  be 
sure  if  they  could  have  effected  their  design.  But  in  this  letter 
it  is  called  "  a  violent  and  virulent  invitation  to  rise  that  night 
to  clear  the  Country  of  the  Commissioners  and  their  Officers  to 
avenge  themselves  of  the  Custom  house  Officers,  and  put  one  of 
them  to  death!"  And  still  more  alarming,  "there  were  also  some 
indecent  threats  against  the  Governor  !  "     Could  the  Governor 


110    STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

think  that  by  the  Vermin  that  were  come  to  devour  the  land 
they  meant  his  Excellency  and  the  Commissioners?  But  per- 
haps the  mind  of  the  Sheriff  who  brought  this  information  to 
the  Governor  was  somewhat  agitated  with  the  fears  of  an  insur- 
rection ;  and  moreover,  we  may  presume  that  he  had  not  seen 
the  paper  himself,  but  took  it  from  report,  in  conformity  to  the 
example  of  the  Governor,  who  believed  or  pretended  to  believe 
every  word  of  it,  till  he  had  the  mortifying  sight  of  the  true 
contents  of  this  very  important  paper ;  of  which  the  following 
as  he  at  length  tells  his  Lordship  is  "  an  exact  coj3y,"  viz*.  — 
Boston  June  13  1768  The  Sons  of  liberty  request  all  those  who 
in  this  time  of  oppression  and  distraction  wish  well  to  and  would 
promote  the  peace,  good  order  and  security  ofthe  Town  and  Prov- 
ince, to  assemble  at  Liberty  Hall  under  Liberty  Tree  on  Tues- 
day the  14  Ins*.,  at  10  OClock  precisely.  —  It  might  have  been 
supposed  that  so  harmless  a  thing  would  have  given  offence  to 
none.  In  the  first  place  the  matters  alledged  in  it  were  confess- 
edly true  :  That  this  was  a  time  of  oppression,  the  people  all 
felt :  That  it  was  a  time  of  distraction,  the  Governor  and  the 
Commissioners  loudly  proclaimed  :  A  design  then  at  such  a 
time  to  promote  the  peace  good  order  &  security  of  the  Town, 
was  at  least  unexceptionable.  But  the  Governor  complains  that 
"  it  was  not  considered  as  an  implication  of  danger."  Strange 
would  it  have  been  indeed  if  so  salutary  a  proposal  as  the  pro- 
moting the  peace  good  oi'der  and  security  of  the  Town  had  been 
thus  considered.  "  Neither,  says  he,  was  the  impropriety  of  the 
sons  of  liberty  appointing  a  meeting  to  secure  the  peace  of 
the  town,  when  the  governor  and  council  were  sitting  upon  that 
business,  and  seemly  to  little  purpose,  taken  much  notice  of. " 
but  surely  if  the  Governor  and  Council  could  be  supposed  to  be 
setting  upon  such  business,  at  such  a  time,  and  seemly  to  little 
purpose,  there  could  be  no  great  impropriety  in  other  peoples 
undertaking.  But  without  adopting  by  any  means  the  measure, 
is  not  here  a  striking  instance  of  the  disposition  of  Governor 
Bernard,  and  some  others  to  receive  with  the  greatest  avidity 
the  most  exaggerated  accounts  of  every  triffling  occurrance  that 
has  happened,  and  without  any  enquiry,  to  paint  them  to  the 
Ministry  in  the  deepest  colours  !  Behold  a  Meeting  the  professed 
design  of  which  was  to  promote  the  peace,  good  order  and 
security  of  the  Town,  and  that  in  open  daylight,  represented  to 
the  Kings  Minister  as  a  Meeting  designed  to  be  held  at  Six 
O'Clock,  near  Sun-Set,  in  one  letter ;  and  in  another  the  next 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  17(54  TO  1770.  Ill 

Day.  "  a  most  violent  &  virulent  invitation  to  rise  that  night? 
and  Clear  the  country  of  the  Commissioners, — threaten  the 
Governor  and  commit  murder"!  In  consequence  of  which  he 
tells  the  Council,  there  is  "no  time  to  enquire  into  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  former  riot."  They  are  to  be  hurried  to 
measures  to  provide  for  the  peace  of  the  Town"  and  to  prevent 
"new  disturbances  premeditated"  and  "immediately  threatned;" 
and  his  Lordship  is  to  be  forthwith  informed  of  it.  —  Certainly 
every  candid  person  will  from  hence  be  inclined  to  believe  all 
that  Governor  Bernard  relates  to  the  prejudice  of  this  Town,  or 

any  particular  persons,  with  great  discretion. 

His  Letter  of  the  16  of  June,  for  he  seemed  to  be  almost 
every  day  emply'd  in  writing  his  "  Detail "  —  of  common 
reports,  gives  the  Earl  of  Hillsburrough  an  Account  of  "the 
Meeting  at  Liberty  Tree  in  pursuance  of  the  printed  notice." 
And  after  entertaining  his  Lordship  with  a  particular  tho' 
awkward  and  inconsistent  description  of  the  Tree,  the  vast 
height  of  the  flag  staff,  and  the  design  of  hoisting  the  flag 
staff,  and  the  design  of  hoisting  the  flag,  namely  "  for  a 
signal,"  which  to  be  sure  must  be  a  discovery  quite  new  to 
his  Lordship,  he  proceeds  to  say ;  that  "  at  least  4000  Men 
assembled,"  that  "  the  principal  Gentleman  attended  to  engage 
the  lower  people  to  concur  in  measures  for  peace  &  quiet." 
which  was  the  professed  end  of  their  meeting  —  that  "  one 
of  the  Selectmen  was  chosen  Moderator  or  Chairman  "  —  that 
they  adjourned  to  the  Town  Hall "  for  the  accommodation  of 
so  large  a  number.  And  there  it  being  "  objected  that  they 
were  not  a  legal  meeting  "  they  adjourned  to  the  Afternoon," 
he  should  have  said,  broke  up  ;  and  the  Selectmen  instead  of 
"  legalizing  the  Assembly "  as  it  is  odly  expressed,  called  a 
Town  Meeting  agreable  to  the  directions  of  the  law,  to  meet  in 
the  Afternoon.  All  this  was  certainly  an  innocent  proceeding, 
and  the  Governor  himself,  it  is  presumed  did  not  think  other- 
wise, for  it  happens  for  once,  that  he  makes  no  particular 
remarks  upon  it;  and  if  it  should  be  said  of  them,  that  they  met 
seemingly  to  little  purpose,  it  might  be  said  truly  enough ; 
but  it  is  to  be  remembred,  that  another  Assembly,  with  their 
Chairman  at  their  head,  if  the  Governor's  ludicrous  account  of 
the  Meeting  of  that  very  respectable  body  could  be  credited, 
might  in  that  respect  keep  them  in  countenance — But  innocent 
as  it  was,  the  Governor  did  not  choose  it  should  be  thought  that 
he  viewed  it  in  that  light,  and  therefore  told  the  Council,  &  his 


112         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Lordship  afterwards  that  "  had  it  been  the  first  business  of  the 
kind,  he  should  have  asked  their  advice,  whether  he  should  not 
send  to  the  General  for  Troops  :  And  to  show  his  own  excessive 
fondness  for  so  arbitrary  and  violent  a  measure,  he  adds,  that 
"  he  was  ready  to  do  it,  if  any  one  Gentleman  would  propose 
it"! 

The  Governor  then  proceeds  to  give  a  detail  of  the  Meeting 
of  the  Town  in  the  Afternoon  ;  in  which  he  tells  his  Lordship 
that  "  many  wild  and  violent  proposals  were  made."  It  ought 
here  to  be  observed  that  Governor  Bernard  constantly  represents 
bodys  of  Men,  even  the  most  respectable,  by  proposals  made  by 
Individuals,  which  have  been  misrepresented  by  Pimps  and 
Parasites,  and  perhaps  aggravated  by  himself,  instead  of  allowing 
them  to  stand  or  fall  by  their  own  conclusions  —  Can  any  thing- 
be  more  base,  more  contrary  to  equity  than  this  ?  —  What 
should  we  think  of  the  most  respectable  Corporations  at  home — 
What  even  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  if  they  were  to  be 
Judged  of  by  every  motion  that  has  been  made,  or  every  expres- 
sion that  has  dropped  from  Individuals  in  the  warmth  of 
debates  *?  If  it  had  been  true  that  such  proposals  had  been 
made,  nay,  if  measures  that  could  not  have  been  altogether 
Justified,  had  been  even  adopted  by  the  Town,  at  a  time  when 
every  art  had  been  practised  to  irritate  the  people  and  inflame 
their  minds,  the  candid  part  of  mankind  would  have  been  ready 
to  overlook  it.  —  The  Governor  has  often  been  observed  to 
discover  an  aversion  to  free  Assemblys  :  No  wonder  then  that 
he  should  be  so  particularly  disgusted  at  a  legal  Meeting  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  where  a  noble  freedom  of  speech  is  ever 
expected  and  maintained:  An  Assembly  of  which  it  may  be 
Justly  said,  to  borrow  the  language  of  the  ancient  Roman,  with 
a  little  variation,  /Sentire  quae  volent  et  quae  senticat  dicere 
licet,  They  think  as  they  please,  and  speak  as  they  think.  —  Such 
an  Assembly  has  ever  been  the  dread  —  often  the  scourge  of 
Tyrants  —  But  these  "  wild  and  violent  proposals,"  which  no 
one  can  recollect  but  the  Governor,  and  perhaps  his  Informers, 
it  seems  were  "  warded  off,"  as  the  Governor  is  pleased  to 
express  it,  from  whence  it  may  be  supposed  that  prudence, 
directed  at  this  Meeting,  "  originated  &  composed  as  he  says  it 
was  "  —  By  these  expressions  it  is  conceived,  he  would  intimate 
to  his  Lordship  that  it  was  both  illegal  and  tumultuous ;  and  if 
that  was  his  real  intention,  the  insinuation  was  both  false  & 
injurious.  —  The  Meeting  was  "  originated  "  as  the  law  directs, 


BOSTON,   MASSACIIUNKTTS,   170 1   To   1770.  113 

: v  1 1 « I  nothing  was  there  concluded  upon  according  to  the  Gov- 
ernors own  account,  1  >ul  the  appointment  of  a  ( !oramittee,  which 
he  himself  says  "in  general  was  very  respectable,"  to  wait  on 
him  "with  a  petition;"  the  receiving  bis  answer,  as  he  is 
pleased  (<>  suy,  with  "universal  approbation"!  writing  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  &  voting  such  Instructions  as  they  thought  proper 
to  their  representatives,  after  which  he  tells  his  Lordship  they 
"  broke  up  quietly  and  the  Meeting  ended."  But  notwithstand- 
ing this  quiet  and  as  may  be  concluded  by  the  Governors 
account  of  it,  co'alizing  Town  Meeting,  which  consisted  of  so 
large  a  number,  and  among  whom  he  himself  was  so  "  popular  " 
that  even  the  Moderator  declared  that  he  really  believed  he  was 
a  well  wisher  to  the  Province,"  (Thus  saith  Governor  Bernard, 
but  no  one  remembers  or  believes  it)  yet  all  this  will  not  avail 
to  soften  his  mind  or  alter  his  intention.  And  altho'  he  tells  his 
Lordship  "  the  Romney  and  a  Sloop  of  16  Guns  Just  come  in 
will  compleat  the  command  of  all  the  approaches  to  the  Castle, 
and  other  Ships  of  War  are  expected,  so  that  the  security  of  the 
Commissioners  is  effectually  provided  for  "  ;  yet  the  favorite 
point  will  not  be  carried,  till  the  long  wished  for  Troops  arrive, 
to  enforce  his  arbitrary  Designs,  and  suppress  the  spirit  of 
liberty.  And  now  is  the  time,  if  ever,  to  press  the  matter : 
Every  hand  therefore  must  be  set  to  work,  and  nothing  will 
serve  the  cause  like  continually  holding  up  the  Idea  of  an 
Insurrection.  Accordingly  we  find  one  of  the  Auxiliaries, 
whose  Letter  tho'  anonimous,  has  credit  enough  to  appear  in  the 
lists  laid  before  Parliament,  says  "  It  is  my  opinion  that  the 
promoters  of  the  present  evils  are  ready  to  unmask,  and  openly 
to  discover  their  long  and  latent  design  to  Rebel  "  —  and —  "  in- 
volve this  Country  in  blood  and  horror  !  Another  anonimous 
writei-,  who  is  said  to  be  "  well  acquainted  with  the  state  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,"  says,  that  "  He  observes  a  sourness  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  in  general,  and  adds,  he  that  runs  may  read, 
that  without  speedy  interposition  a  great  stoimi  will  arise."  — 
The  Collector  and  Comptroller  of  the  Customs  mentioned  with 
deep  concern,  as  they  affect  to  express  themselves  "that  a 
general  spirit  of  Insurrection  prevails,  not  only  in  the  Town, 
but  throughout  the  whole  Provinces.''''  The  Commissioners 
themselves  in  their  letter  to  General  Gage  tell  him  "  that  it  is 
utterly  impossible  to  carry  on  the  business  Of  the  Revenue  in 
Boston,  from  the  outrageous  behavior  of  the  People "  They 
acquaint  the  General  "  of  the  alarming  state  of  things  in  the 


114        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Town  and  desire  him  to  give  them  protection^  And  tho' 
Governor  Bernard  when  not  so  much  on  his  guard,  or  perhaps 
under  some  little  compunction  of  mind  in  his  letter  to  the  Com- 
missioners, June  13.  gently  chides  them  for  their  ill  grounded 
fears,  and  tells  them  "  he  is  very  sorry  that  they  think  them- 
selves so  much  in  danger  in  Boston  (which  he  had  before  said 
was  no  place  of  safety  for  them,)  as  to  think  it  unsafe  for  them 
to  reside  there  "  notwithstanding  all  this,  yet  in  the  letter  we 
are  now  considering,  which  was  written  nearly  at  the  same  time, 
he  possitively  assures  his  Lordship  that  if  there  is  not  a  Revolt, 
the  Leaders  must  falsify  their  words  &  chauge  their  purposes. 
Perhaps  he  would  have  been  more  consistent  if  he  had  imagined 
these  letters  would  ever  have  Seen  the  light.  He  concludes  his 
letter  with  mentioning  a  few  more  papers  stuck  up  on  the  Town 
House. —  No  evidence  however  appears  to  have  accompanied  all 
these  heavy  charges  upon  a  whole  Community:  But  Governor 
Bernard  and  others  seem  to  have  conducted  their  proscriptions 
as  if  they  could  have  even  foreseen,  that  the  bold  assertions  of 
persons  apparently  inimical  to  a  Country,  anonimous  Letters, 
Street  conversation  picked  up  by  Pimps  and  Spies,  .and  Papers 
stuck  up  by  no  one  knows  whom  on  a  publick  Building,  would 
be  of  so  much  weight  as  to  influence  the  measures  of  Adminis- 
trations !  Can  any  Person  believe  this  a  Just  representation, 
when  Governor  Bernard  with  all  his  Industry  and  aid  has  not 
been  able  to  furnish  proof  that  any  Body  or  Combination  of 
Men,  or  even  a  single  Person  had  incurred  a  legal  penalty,  if  we 
except   the    disturbances    that   happened    on  March    and  June 

already  considered. 

The  Governor  in  his  letter  of  the  9  of  July  informs  his  Lord- 
ship of  a  manoeuvre,  as  he  calls  it,  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty ;  a 
number  of  them  going  out  of  Boston  at  the  close  of  a  certain 
day  in  parties,  and  meeting  on  each  side  of  a  House  in  Roxbury, 
which  Mr.  Robinson  (and  his  Lordship  must  be  informed  that 
he  also  was  one  of  the  Commissioners)  had  lately  hired  with  an 
attention  to  surprize  him  and  prevent  his  escape  ;  but  he  being 
at  the  Castle,  where  the  Commissioners  had  been  driven  for 
safety,  they  did  nothing  but  plunder  his  Fruit  Trees.  This  is  a 
very  solemn  account  indeed.  But  he  never  laid  this  "  rnan- 
oevre  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,"  extraordinary  as  it  was,  before 
the  Council,  which  he  never  failed  to  do  on  like  occasions  ; 
thinking  possibly,  that  respectable  Body  might  be  of  opinion, 
that  a  Gentleman   of  any   political  party  may  be  supposed   to 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1704  TO   1776.  1  L5 

have  liis  Orchard  or  Fruit  Gardens  robbed  by  liquorish  Boys, 
without  making  a  formal  representation  before  his  Majestys 
first  Minister  of  State.  As  the  Governor  will  still  have  it  that 
"the  Commissioners  were  driven  to  the  Castle  for  safety.'''' 
we  take  occasion  to  observe  here,  that  it  was  notorious,  that 
they  frequently  landed  on  the  Main,  and  made  excursions  into 
the  Country ;  visiting  the  Lieuv*.  Governor  and  other  Gentle- 
men at  their  Seats,  where  it  would  have  been  easy  to  have 
seized  them  if  any  injury  had  been  intended  them  ;  which  as 
his  Majestys  Council  very  Justly  have  observed,  "  demonstrated 
the  insincerity  of  their  declarations,"  as  it  did  those  of  the 
Governor    "  that   they  immured    themselves  at  the   Castle  for 

safety." 

Another  part  of  the  detail  in  this  Letter  is  the  Rescue  of  a 
Vessel  which  had  beeen  seized  by  the  Custom  house  Officers. 
It  seems  by  Governor  Bernards  Account,  it  had  been  "  thought 
proper  to  try  an  experiment  "  for  says  he,  "  When  the  Sloop 
was  Seized  which  occasioned  the  Riot,  and  in  consequence  of 
which  the  Commissioners  were  obliged  to  leave  the  Town,  the 
greatest  part  of  the  resentment  was  expressed  against  the  put- 
ting her  under  the  care  of  the  Man  of  War  "  which  was  very 
true,  and  he  might  have  also  said,  the  making  the  seizure  with 
an  armed  force,  and  therefore  he  adds,  "  when  the  Schooner 
was  seized  it  was  left  at  the  Wharff  under  no  other  care  but 
two  Custom  house  Officers,"  in  hopeful,  no  doubt,  if  not  certain 
expectation  that  the  rescue  would  be  made,  from  whence  it 
might  possibly  be  made  to  appear  that  the  resentment  against 
the  proceedings  of  the  Custom  house  Officers  in  the  former 
instance,  as  being  violent  and  illegal,  was  mere  pretence.  The 
Rescue  was  made,  and  it  was  universally  displeasing  to  the 
Town.  The  Governor  says,  "  this  very  Molasses  was  the  next 
day  returned  "  and  tells  his  Lordship  that  "  the  Selectmen  of 
the  Town  sent  for  the  Master  of  the  Schooner,"  and  "  ordered 
him  to  return  it  under  pain  of  the  displeasure  of  the  Town  ;  " 
which  is  a  gross  misrepresentation  of  the  matter,  and  artfully 
designed  for  to  prepare  for  the  subsequent  ungenerous  remark 
that  "  all  Government  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  People." 
A  good  majestrate  would  have  rejoiced  in  this  instance  of  the 
Peoples  voluntarily  affording  their  aid  in  the  recovery  of  the 
Kings  due  which  had  been  rescued  from  him,  without  torturing 
his  invention  to  find  an  illnatured  construction  for  it.  But 
Governor  Bernard  is  disturbed  that  "  the  humor  of  the  people  " 


116        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

which  he  says  this  was  done  "  to  please  "  should  ever  coincide 
with  their  duty  to  the  Sovereign  —  The  voluntary  Association 
of  the  People  to  promote  peace  and  good  order,  he  had  before 
said  "  carried  an  implication  of  danger "  to  the  Government ; 
and  now  when  they  seem  to  unite  in  taking  measures  for  the 
execution  of  a  law,  although  in  its  nature  disagreeable  to  the 
People,  why  truly  "  the  Government  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
People,  and  not  of  those  deputed  by  the  King,  or  under  his 
authority."  But  if  the  People  had  a  view  to  save  their  own 
reputation  in  this  piece  of  service  to  the  Crown,  as  the  Gov- 
ernor intimates  surely  he  will  not  say  it  was  "  ill  judged,"  or 
"ill  timed."  The  truth  is  they  had  a  particular  view  at  this 
time  to  prevent  Governor  Bernard,  improving  the  rescue,  which 
they  were  in  no  sort  concerned  in,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Town, 
as  had  been  his  constant  practice  in  other  cases  and  as  it  now 
evidently  appears  he  intended :  And  it  was  certainly  a  wise 
precaution  ;  tho'  a  candid  mind  will  by  no  means  exclude  any 
other  good  intentions.  —  We  cannot  forbear  taking  notice  here- 
with freedom  of  a  very  extraordinary  assertion  of  Governor 
Bernards  —  in  this  letter  to  his  Lordship,  that  "  every  seizure 
made,  or  attempted  to  be  made  on  land  in  Boston  for  these 
three  Years  past,  before  these  two  Instances  had  been  violently 
rescued  or  prevented  "  —  An  assertion  so  notoriously  false,  that 
few  Men  could  have  made  it  without  blushing  and  Ave  may 
suppose  even  Governor  Bernard  himself  could  not  have  made  it 
had  he  apprehended  it  would  ever  have  become  publick.*  The 
Officers  of  the  Customs  themselves  will  not  venture  to  Affirm  it. 
If  the  assertion  is  true,  his  Majestys  Council  must  have  been 
egregiously  mistaken  when  they  declare  that  "  no  instance  can 
be  Aleged  of  any  Vessel  seized,  or  any  seizure  whatever  in  the 
Town  of  Boston  being  rescued  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Officers, 
except  what  took  place  here  on  the  8th.  of  July  Instant,  when 
a  quantity  of  Molasses  (this  very  Molasses)  having  been  seized, 
was  taken  away  from  the  Officers  who  had  charge  of  it ;  which 
unwarrantable    proceeding   being   universally   condemned,    the 

*  It  is  remarkable  that  Governor  Bernard  not  long  before  these  letters  were  made 
public,  expressed  to  a  certain  Gentleman,  his  earnest  wish  that  ye.  people  of  this 
Province  could  have  a  sight  of  all  his  letters  to  the  Ministry,  being  assured  that  they 
would  thereby  be  fully  convinced  that  he  was  a  friend  to  the  Province —  Indeed  he 
made  a  declaration  to  the  same  purpose  in  one  of  his  publick  speeches  in  the  House  of 
Representatives.  Upon  ye.  arrival  of  the  letters  however,  he  discovered  as  some 
say  a  certain  paleness,  &  complain'd  of  as  a  hardship  that  his  letters  wrote  in  con- 
fidence, should  be  exposed  to  the  view  of  ye.  Public  —  A  striking  proof  of  the  baseness, 
as  well  as  the  perfidy  of  his  Heart.  — 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1776.  117 

Molasses  was  very  soon  returned,"  As  lliis  base  story  was 
invented  and  told  by  Governor  Bernard,  with  the  sole  intention 
of  casting  an  odium  upon  the  Town,  we  have  reason  to  expect 
his  retraction  of  it;  or  he  must  bear  the  reproaches  of  an 
highly  injured  community,  and  the  .lust,  sensures  of  all  impartial 
Men.  After  these  false  and  injurious  assertions,  he  thinks  it  a 
proper  time  to  acquaint  his  Lordship,  that  the  one  Regiment 
which  had  the  flattering  expectation  of,  from  a  letter  he  had  re- 
ceived from  General  Gage,  "  tlio'  it  might  secure  the  Castle  would 
not  be  sufficient  to  awe  the  Town  ;  which  was  in  effect  asking 
for  more.  Thus  we  see  the  means  which  Governor  Bernard 
and  his  Confederates  have  been  incessantly  using  to  accomplish 
their  designs  ;  aud  strange  as  it  may  in  some  better  times  here- 
after, these  means  and  these  very  Instruments  at  length  pre- 
vail'd  to  introduce  a  military  power  into  the  Town — A  power 
which  is  dayly  trampling  on  our  laws,  contemning  our  Religeon, 
and  invading  the  Rights  both  of  Persons  and  property  —  A 
power  by  which  a  truly  loyal  &  but  long  abused  and  highly 
provoked  Community,  is  not  indeed  awed  but  distressed — And 
were  it  not  for  the  certain  advice,  that  our  humble  and  dutiful 
supplications  have  at  length  reached  the  Royal  hand,  we 
should  be  reduced  even  to  a  state  of  desperation  ! 

Governor  Bernard  in  his  letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  of 
the  16th.  Septemr.  begins  with  acquainting  his  Lordship  with 
the  prudent  methods  he  took,  to  communicate  the  expectation 
of  the  Troops  gradually  for  fear  of  certain  ill  effects  that  might 
arise  from  their  sudden  arrival.  And  no  wonder  that  the  Man 
who  had  long  been  representing  a  whole  Country  as  Rebels  ; 
&  had  been  one  of  the  principal  Instruments  in  bringing  such 
a  curse  upon  it,  should  at  that  Juncture  be  under  some  appre- 
hensions of  danger 

In  his  last  letter  he  talks  of  his  personal  courage  and  tells 
Lord  Hillsburrough  that  "  he  did  not  feel  his  own  firmness  of 
mind  to  fail ":  He  also  mentions  "  the  spirited  conduct  of  the 
Lieut*.  Governor  ;  and  with  pleasure  assures  his  Lordship  that 
"  he  could  depend  upon  his  resolution  and  steadiness  as  much  as 
he  could  upon  his  own  "  ;  from  whence  he  concludes  that  "  there 
would  be  no  want  of  a  due  enforcement  of  the  laws  to  the  cor- 
rection of  the  present  abuses  "  —  But  now  he  seems  to  be  con- 
scious of  fear !  Happy  was  it  for  him,  that  he  was  in  the  hands 
of  a  People ;  who  attended  to  the  dictates  of  sound  policy, 
religeon  and  loyalty  —  He  first  opens  this  matter  to  one  of  the 


118        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Council,  and  tells  him  that  "  he  had  private  advice  that  Troops 
were  ordered  hither,  but  that  he  had  no  public  orders  about  it 
himself  "  ;  and  he  observes  that  "  it  was  quickly  very  thoroughly 
circulated  all  over  the  Town "  and  the  Faction  immediately 
took  the  alarm  "  By  this  he  would  insinuate  that  the  better  sort 
of  the  People  and  even  the  generality  of  the  Town  were  well 
enough  pleased  with  it.  If  the  Faction  only  took  the  alarm, 
generality  of  the  Town  must  have  been  included  in  the  Faction  : 
For  in  truth,  he  had  the  mortification  of  setting  the  whole  Body 
of  the  People,  saving  his  own  very  few  adherents  who  were 
properly  an  implacable  Faction,  thoroughly  awakened  and 
alarmed  at  the  sudden  expectation  of  a  military  force,  which 
had  indeed  been  often  threatened  by  this  Faction,  but  few  real- 
ized it  before  —  And  now  the  Pimps  were  all  immediately  sent 
out,  who  no  doubt  were  rewarded  in  proportion  to  their  success 
in  the  business  ;  and  the  Governor  soon  had  intelligence  brought 
to  him  of  the  conversation  of  "private  companies''''  And  that 
in  one  "  it  was  the  general  opinion  to  raise  the  Country  and 
oppose  the  Troops  "  ;  in  another  "  it  was  resolved  to  Surprize 
&  take  the  Castle. "  How  ridiculously  impertinent  must  he 
appear  in  the  Eyes  of  Men  of  sense,  after  all  to  acquaint  his 
Lordship  that  "  he  does  not  relate  these  accounts  as  certain 
facts.  "  To  what  purpose  then  did  he  relate  them  at  all !  It 
seems  that  he  was  full  as  designing  in  communicating  to  Lord 
Hillsburrough,  as  he  was  in  communicating  to  the  People,  tho' 
his  designs  were  different :  For  the  People  were  not  to  be  told 
the  tohole  that  the  Governor  knew  to  be  true  ;  but  his  Lordship 
was  to  be  induced  to  Believe  more:  —  In  either  case  if  the 
purpose  could  be  served,  Sincerity  was  out  of  the  question. 
Uncertain  however  as  these  Facts  were,  his  Lordship  was 
informed  that  they  were  yet  "  believed "  !  Strange  as  they 
were  said  to  be  facts  of  yesterday,  that  no  one,  after  all  the 
pains  that  had  been  taken,  could  make  them  certain  ;  and  if 
they  were  not  to  be  made  certain,  stranger  still  that  any  in 
their  senses  should  believe  them.  Some  Men  are  very  apt  to 
believe  what  they  wish  to  be  true  :  This  no  doubt  is  the  present 
case  —  And  besides  we  are  to  remember,  that  more  than  two 
Regiments  were  wanted  to  awe  the  Town  ;  and  if  the  Governor 
could  boldly  say,  that  these  reports  vague  as  they  were,  had 
obtained  any  credit  here,  no  matter  by  whom  believed,  they 
would  have  some  weight.  But  he  must  be  presumed  to  think 
very  injudiciously  of  the  head  or  the  heart  of  a  Minister    of 


BOSTON,    MASSACHUSETTS,    L764  TO   1776.  II!) 

State,  to  suppose  that  such  an  undigested  and  ridiculous  account, 
of  things  would  influence  hi*  measures.  Nothing  we  should 
think  but  the  ureal  candor  which  has  ever  appeared  in  Lord 
Hillsburrough  towards  Governor  Bernard,  could  have  pre- 
vented his  severest,  sensure  —  But  admitting  they  were  true, 
which  was  by  no  means  the  case,  certainly  the  Town  is  not  ac- 
countable for  what  one  of  his  Excellencies  Spies  might  have 
overheard  in  "  a  private  Company."  —  Let  us  them  consider 
the  account  the  Governor  gives  of  the  puhlick  conduct  of  the 
Town,  at  a  Meeting  legally  called  on  Monday  September  12. 
And  first  he  says,  "  at  the  Hall  the  Faction  appeared  surrounded 
with  all  its  Forces  "  ;  and  an  appearance  very  decent  at  least, 
it  seems  they  were  capable  of  making  according  to  the  Govern- 
or's account.  For  he  tells  his  Lordship,  "  a  set  of  speeches,  by 
the  Chiefs  of  the  Faction,  and  no  one  else  followed  in  such 
order  &  method,  that  every  thing  both  as  to  matter  and  order 
seemed  to  have  been  preconcerted "  ;  while  alas !  the  "  very 
few  principal  Gentlemen  there,  "  the  better  sort  in  the  Govern- 
or's estimation,  appeared  "  as  curious  perhaps  anxious  Spec- 
tators " !  Where  is  now  the  little  remains  of  an  expiring 
Faction,  which  he  had  so  often  told  the  World  of  ?  The  tone 
is  wonderfully  altered ;  the  Body  of  the  People  are  now  truly 
represented  as  united  firm  and  regular  in  their  opposition  to 
his  measures,  while  his  own  few  Partizans,  Who  yet  must  be 
stiled  "  the  principal  Gentlemen,  "  tho'  expecting  every  moment 
to  be  "  surrounded  with  all  their  Forces,  "  appeared  inquisitive 
and  anxious  for  the  event !  But  nothing  was  resolved  upon,  says 
the  Governor,  but  to  put  two  questions  to  me,  and  appoint  a 
general  Committee  to  consider  and  report."  The  main  ques- 
tion to  the  Governor  was.  Whether  he  had  certain  expectation 
of  the  Troops  ?  To  which  he  answered  with  an  artful  ambiguity, 
that  he  had  private  advice,  but  no  publick  orders  about  it.  His 
private  advice  might  have  been  certain  ;  or  he  might  have  had 
authentich  public  advice,  without  public  orders  about  it,  for 
General  Gage  was  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  King  Forces. 
Being  however  somewdiat  pressed  by  the  Committee  who  waited 
on  him,  he  discovered  a  duplicity  for  which  he  has  a  peculiar 
tallent,  and  said  that  he  would  not  have  the  Town  certainly 
expect  the  Troops  ;  altho'  he  then  expected  them  himself,  & 
fully  believed  they  were  on  their  passage  from  Hallifax,  and 
in  this  letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  he  tells  him,  that  it  was  at 
that  very  time  his  attention  to  communicate  these  expectations 


120        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

of  them  gradually  His  account  of  diverse  speeches  made  in 
the  Town  Meeting  is  as  uncertain,  and  with  regard  to  some  of 
them  as  untrue,  as  the  intelligence  he  had  received  of  the 
private  conversation  :  Perhaps  it  was  carried  to  him  by  the 
same  hands,  as  some  of  his  principal  Gentlemen  were  there. 
The  Resolves  and  determinations  of  this  Meeting,  as  the 
Governor  says,  were  published  to  the  World ;  and  they  remain 
on  the  Records  of  the  Town  that  Posterity  may  Judge  of  them. 
The  Town  has  .Seen  no  reason  since  to  revoke  these  Resolves, 
notwithstanding  they  have  been  sentenced  as  "  very  danger- 
ous Resolves  procured  by  mad  People,  "  by  so  exquisite  a  Judge 
in  matters  which  regard  Civil  Government,  as  well  as  so  polite 
a  Gentleman  as  General  Gage.  The  Governor  himself  has  been 
since  respectfully  requested  by  the  Selectman,  in  behalf  of  the 
Town  to  shew  in  what  respect  the  Resolves  &  proceedings  of 
this  very  Meeting  had  militated  with  law  ;  but  he  declined  it, 
because  he  was  notable  to  do  it.  Spirited  indeed  they  were, 
but  not  too  spirited  for  the  times  —  When  the  Constitution, 
threatned  is  the  principles  of  the  Constitution  must  if  ever  be 
asserted  and  supported  —  the  Governor  indeed  takes  notice  of 
our  claim  to  a  certain  clause  in  the  Bill  of  rights  as  "  a  large 
stride  "  But  as  we  are  free  British  Subjects,  we  claim  all  that 
security  against  arbitrary  power,  to  which  we  are  entitled  by 
the  Law  of  God,  and  nature  as  well  as  the  British  Constitution. 
And  if  a  standing  Army  may  not  be  posted  upon  the  Subject 
in  one  part  of  the  Empire  in  a  time  of  peace,  without  their 
consent,  there  can  be  no  reason  why  it  should  in  any  other ; 
for  all  British  Subjects  are  or  ought  to  be  alike  free.  — 

The  Governor  in  a  former  letter  to  Lord  Hillsburrough  men- 
tioned the  Selectmens  ordering  the  Arms  belonging  to  the  Town 
to  be  brought  out  and  cleaned  ;  and  to  make  something  of  the 
story,  he  told  him  that  "that  they  were  exposed  some  hours  at  the 
Town  House":  In  this  letter  he  says  "  these  Arms  were  deposited 
in  Chests,  and  laid  upon  the  floor  of  the  Town  Hall  to  remind 
the  people  of  the  use  of  them  Could  any  one  besides  Governor 
Bernard,  decend  to  so  pittiful  an  artifice  as  to  insinuate  that  these 
Arms  were  cleaned,  exposed  to  the  People,  and  finally  laid  on 
the  floor  of  the  Hall  at  this  Juncture,  to  induce  his  Lordship  to 
believe,  that  these  were  the  Forces  with  which  the  Faction  ap- 
peared "  surrounded, "  and  that  the  Selectmen  who  are  the 
principal  City  Majestrates,  and  the  leading  part  of  the  Town 
itself,  were  actually  in  the  plan  which  he  had  Just  before  men- 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  L764  TO  1776.  121 

tioncd,  as  concerted  in  one  of  the  private  Meetings  "to  raise  tlie 
Country  and  oppose  the  Troops";  Ami  t  hat,  these  Anns  deposited 
in  Chests  were  laid  on  the  floor  of  the  Hall  "to  remind  the  Peo- 
ple of  the  use  of  them  "  — ,  and  inspirit  them  for  the  purpose  of 
opposing  the  Troops.  Whereas  the  simple  truth  of  the  matter 
is,  these  Arms  had  for  many  Years  been  deposited  in  Chests  and 
laid  on  the  floor  of  the  Town  Hall  ;  but  the  Hall  itself  being 
burnt  a  few  Years  ago,  the  Arms  were  saved  from  the  Ruins 
and  carried  to  the  Town  House  :  After  the  Hall  was  Rebuilt  the 
Town  ordered  their  removal  there  ;  and  tho'  it  happened  to  be 
done  at  a  Juncture  when  the  Governor  and  his  Confederates 
talked  much  of  the  Towns  revolting,  there  was  no  other  thought 
in  the  minds  of  any,  except  the  Governor  and  a  few  more,  and 
it  is  a  question  whether  even  he,  or  they,  really  thought  other- 
wise, but  to  lodge  them  in  their  usual  &  proper  place  We  can- 
not help  taking  notice  how  very  exact  the  Governor  sometimes 
is  even  in  the  choice  of  words,  in  his  "  detail  of  facts "  to  a 
Minister  of  the  state  :  An  instance  of  which  we  have  now  before 
us,  wherein  he  mentions  to  his  Lordship  his  inclosing  "  a  blank 
Copy  of  the  Precept  (as  he  is  pleased  to  call  it)  which  the 
Selectman  have  used  ,  "  it  is  a  wonder  it  was  not  issued,  for 
that  would  have  made  it  appear  more  formal  "  in  calling  to- 
gether the  Convention " ;  from  whence  he  takes  occasion  to 
say  it  was  "  a  daring  assumption  of  the  Royal  authority.  "  Here 
then  is  the  treason  and  misprision  of  treason,  or  a  part  of  it  at 
least,  about  which  there  has  been  such  an  eclat  of  late  ;  for 
which  the  Governor  tells  his  Lordship  in  this  detail  of  the  Con- 
vention every  well  wisher  of  the  Province,  of  whom  he  is  doubt- 
less one,  "  most  devoutly  desires  the  Charter  may  be  forfeited  " 
—  and  some  of  the  Leaders  were  to  be  sent  to  England  to  be 
tried  there  —  Nay  his  Lordship  or  some  one  of  his  Majestys 
Servants  is  informed  that  they  expected  it  themselves  for  Com- 
mander Hood  in  one  of  his  short  &  pithy  Epistles,  says,  "  they 
were  alarm'd  and  expected  nothing  less  than  a  Voyage  to 
England  against  their  inclinations, "  but  his  Lordships  deep 
penetration  might  have  discovered  that  this  "  Precept  to  call  a 
Convention  "  was  nothing  more  than  a  friendly  circular  letter 
to  the  Selectmen  of  the  several  Towns  in  the  Province  desiring 
them  to  propose  to  their  respective  Towns  the  sending  a  Com- 
mittees, to  Join  with  those  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  in  consulting 
measures  to  promote  peace  and  good  order ;  which  was  so  far 
from  an  assumption  of  the  Royal  authority,  that  it  assumed  not 


122        STATE  PAPEKS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

the  least  shadow  of  any  authority  whatever  —  This  very  inno- 
cent measure  of  the  Town  in  "  calling  together  a  Convention  " 
as  the  Governor  expresses  it,  which  he  so  highly  sensures,  and 
upon  the  promoters  of  which  he  loudly  calls  for  the  National 
venegeance,  was  most  certainly  attended  with  all  the  happy 
effects  for  which  it  was  proposed  :  For  the  general  sentiments 
of  the  Province  was  thereby  Collected,  which  could  not  other- 
wise have  been  done  ;  the  Governor  having  arbitraily  dissolved 
the  General  Assembly,  and  positively  refused  to  call  another, 
against  the  dutiful  Petition  of  the  Convention  itself,  as  well  as 
of  the  Town  Even  before  they  proposed  or  thought  of  it  — 
The  Several  Towns  having  an  opportunity  of  conferring  together 
by  their  Committees,  had  the  same  effects  which  followed  a 
certain  circular  letter,  which  formerly  so  perplexed  his  Excel- 
lency;  for  the  People  became  the  more  united  in  the  measures 
proper  to  be  taken  for  the  preservation  of  their  common  rights 
at  so  critical  and  alarming  a  Juncture.  And  tho'  the  Governor 
says  "  at  the  Fountain  head  it  was  intended  to  provoke  resent- 
ment, "  yet  to  this  very  measure  have  been  imputed,  in  some 
small  degree  very  Justly  or  not,  it  becomes  not  this  Town  to 
say,  that  prudence  as  well  as  fermness  and  perseverance  in  the 
cause  of  liberty,  of  which  it  is  hoped  this  Country  will  ever 
avail  itself,  even  Governor  Bernard  cannot  but  own  that  the 
Convention  discovered  "  moderation  "  and  a  "  temperate  con- 
duct," which  is  far  from  being  inconsistent  with  true  fortitude  : 
But  he  is  not  willing  that  the  Town  of  Boston  should  "  assume 
the  merit  of  it."  They  are  very  far  from  a  disposition  thus  to 
assume  :  They  are  content  to  have  that  share  of  merit  which 
their  beloved  Country  Men  are  willing  they  should  have.  And 
tho'  he  would  insinuate  to  his  Lordship  with  his  usual  cunning, 
that  there  was  at  the  Convention  an  essential  difference  of 
sentiments  between  the  Town  and  the  Country ;  and  that  "  many 
of  the  Deputies  came  down  with  a  disposition  and  Instructions 
to  prevent  the  Bostoners  (as  he  elegantly  expresses  himself) 
involving  the  Province  in  the  consequences  of  their  own  mad 
devises  "  ;  and  that  many  of  them  "  were  from  the  beginning 
sensible  of  the  impropriety  and  danger  of  this  proceeding,  " 
his  Lordship  as  they  printed  what  they  did,  has  no  doubt  been 
since  convinced,  that  they  were  united  in    their  Sentiments  of 

the  common  cause 

But  this  very  peaceable  proposal,  the  Governor   thinks    ex- 
ceeded the"  Great  Rebellion  when  it  was  at  the  highest,  and  the 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1770.  123 

confusion  arising  therefrom  most  urgent  for  some  extraordinary 
measures."  Here  is  the  burden  of  the  Song  —  extraordinary 
measures/  And  surely  Ins  Lordship  must  propose  some  very 
extraordinary  measures  to  chastise  a  (/reciter  than  the  great 
Rebellion,  even  when  it  was  at  the  highest — Not  content  with 
pouring  forth  this  torrent  of  Zeal,  the  Governor  still  presses 
upon  his  Lordship  ;  and  assures  him  that  "  unless  it  is  prevented 
hy  some  power  without,  not  only  the  Crown  Officers,  will  he 
excluded,  but  eveiy  ingredient  of  Royalty  "  in  the  Government 
of  the  Province  will  totally  be  destroyed  —  What  Rhetorick ! 
to  arrest  his  Lordships  attention,  and  hurry  him  on  to  conclude 
with  the  Governor,  that  "  the  force  already  ordered  by  General 
Gage  viz1.  —  two  Resriments  will  not  be  sufficient.  "  —  In  order 
still  to  heighten  the  Ideas  of  an  intended  Rebellion,  the  Governor 
adds  "  it  is  now  a  great  question  whether  the  Kings  Troops 
will  be  suffered  to  enter  the  Town  or  not.  "  And  "  the  design 
against  the  Castle  is  now  so  well  known  that  it  is  probable  that 
the  very  names  of  the  People  who  were  enrolled  for  that 
service  to  the  number  of  five  hundred,  or  of  the  Chiefs 
of  them  will  be  discovered. "  It  is  pritty  remarkable  the 
Governor  in  the  former  part  of  this  letter  informed  his  Lordship, 
that  he  did  not  relate  this  very  account  as  a  certain  fact ;  his 
Spies  must  then  make  very  quick  rotations,  and  the  intelligence 
flow  in  very  fast,  to  be  so  well  assured  of  it  before  he  concluded ; 
or  the  Governor  must  be  so  unfortunate,  perhaps  not  having 
time  in  the  multiplicity  of  his  affairs,  to  keep  a  regular  diary, 
as  to  forget  what  he  had  wrote,  and  as  we  now  and  then  find  it 
happens,  in  the  "  overflowings  "  of  his  Zeale,  to  be  inconsistent 

with  himself. 

It  would  be  an  endless  task  to  take  particular  notice  of  every 
false  and  injurious  representation  contained  in  the  voluminous 
Letters.  *     No  one  can  read  them  without  being  astonished  at 

*  Indeed  it  might  be  said  the  whole  world  would  not  contain  all  the  remarks  that 
might  be  Justly  made  upon  them.  One  instance  however  seems  to  be  overlook'd  by 
the  Town,  and  as  it  is  an  instance  of  importance,  it  is  hoped,  its  being  noticed  in  the 
margin  will  not  be  thought  amiss.  The  Governor  after  having  prevail'd  on  the 
Council,  at  a  very  thin  Board,  and  by  a  majority  of  one  only  out  of  eleven  Gentleman 
present,  to  advise  to  the  clearing  of  the  Manufactory  House  in  Boston,  for  the  recep- 
tion of  A  part  of  the  two  Irish  Regiments  then  expected,  in  his  letter  to  Lord  Hills- 
burrough  of  Novemr  1st  he  gives  him  an  account  of  the  steps  he  had  ordered  for  the 
removal  of  the  Families  out  of  the  House.  And  it  seems  that  the  Governor,  by  a 
power  which  he  had  assumed,  appointed  the  Sheriff  and  two  of  his  Deputies,  Baliffs 
for  the  Governor  and  Council  for  the  purpose;  These  Families,  however,  refused  to 
submit  to  such  authority  even  tho'  the  Chief  Justice  himself  condescended,  to  go  with 
the  Sheriff,  and  advised  them  to  give  up  the  House.  The  Sheriff  upon  the  third 
attempt  says  the  Governor,  "finding  the  Window  opened  entered;  upon  which 


124        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

seeing  a  Person  in  so  important  a  department  as  Governor 
Bernard  sustained,  Defending  in  his  Letters  to  a  Minister  of 
State  to  such  trifling  Circumstances  and  such  slanderous  chit-chat: 
Boasting,  as  he  does  in  one  of  of  his  Letters  of  his  over-reaching 
those  with  whom  he  was  transacting  public  business ;  and  in' 
order  to  prejudice  the  most  respectable  Bodys,  meanly  fetching 
from  Individuals  belonging  to  those  Bodies,  what  had  been 
drop'd  in  the  course  of  Business  or  Debate:    Journalizing  every 

the  People  gathered  about  him  and  shut  him  up;  he  then  made  a  signal  to  an  Officer 
who  was  without,  who  brought  aparty  of  Soldiers,  who  took  possession  of  theyard  of 
the  Building,  and  relieved  the  Sheriff  from  his  confinement"  — This  is  the  Governors 
account  of  the  matter;  but  others  give  a  very  different  account  of  it,  and  say  that  the 
Sheriff  attempted  a  forceable  entry,  and  was  resisted  by  the  People  within  the  house; 
and  by  them  only :  Certain  it  is  that  one  of  them  commenced  an  action  of  trespass 
against  the  Sheriff;  but  what  became  of  the  Action  the  Records  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  will  best  shew :  It  is  also  certain  that  an  Officer  a  military  Officer,  was 
without  and  at  hand;  and  upon  a  signal  from  the  Sheriff,  brought  a  party  of 
Soldiers,  the  whole  Regiment  being  then  incamped  in  sight  on  the  Common  and  the 
Soldiers  (not  the  inhabitants  as  the  Governor  asserts)  "kept  the  House  blockaded 
all  that  Day  and  best  part  of  the  next.  "  It  is  further  certain  and  it  may  be  attested 
by  the  oaths  of  several  persons  of  credit  that  offers  were  made  to  the  Sheriff,  of 
sufficient  aid  in  the  legal  execution  of  his  Office,  if  he  would  dismiss  the  Troops; 
illegal  steps  being  at  the  same  time  excepted  against  —  Great  numbers  of  people  dur- 
ing the  Siege  as  it  may  be  properly  called,  were  collected  in  the  Street,  which  is  as 
spacious  as  in  any  part  of  the  Town,  but  the  Governor  owns  they  did  no  mischief: 
He  indeed  represents  it  in  his  usual  manner  as  a  great  Mob  assembled  with  some  of 
the  Chiefs  of  the  Faction,  intimating  thereby  as  in  his  former  letters  "  an  intended  in- 
surrection": The  General  on  the  other  hand  says  the  matter  "  occasioned  a  little 
disturbance  of  no  consequence";  but  takes  care  to  add,  that  "it  served  to  show  a 
most  obstinate  spirit  of  opposition  to  every  measure  of  Government  "  The  Governor 
further  says,  the  Inhabitants  "  were  very  abusive  to  the  Soldiers": — The  contrary 
is  most  certainly  and  notoriously  true.  He  says  also  that  "the  Soldiers  were  with- 
drawn on  the  Evening  of  the  second  Day"  :  So  far  is  this  from  truth,  that  the  Guard 
of  Soldiers,  to  whose  custody  the  Sheriff  committed  the  Cellar  of  the  House,  which  he 
had  got  the  possession  of,  kept  their  post  a  much  longer  time  ;  and  application  was 
made  to  diverse  of  his  Majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  their  removed  by  the  force  of 
law  near  three  weeks  after.  And  again  the  Governor  says,  that"  this  Building 
was  kept  filled  with  the  outcast  of  the  workhouse,  to  prevent  its  being  used  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Kings  Troops";  which  is  contradicted  by  the  Oaths  of  all  the 
Overseers  of  the  poor,  who  must  have  known  it  had  it  been  true,  for  the  care  and 
Government  of  the  Work-House  is  by  law  vested  in  them.  The  truth  is  the  people 
gathered  upon  this  extraordinary  occasion,  but  were  very  peaceable;  some  few  it 
may  be  to  carry  intelligence  to  the  Governor,  but  by  far  the  greater  part,  from  a 
Just  abhorrence  of  this  measure  of  Government,  to  borrow  the  general  expression, 
and  an  anxiety  for  the  event  of  this  first  open  and  avotv'd  effort  of  Military  Ttkrany  ! 
The  Governor  declares,  that  the  Council  who  were  alarmed  at  the  violence  of  this 
proceeding,  must  have  known  that  the  Entry  "could  not  have  been  made  without 
force,  "  and  he  sufficiently  explain  what  sort  of  force  be  meant  in  the  reason  he  gives 
why  the  Soldiers  were  withdrawn  for  that  time,  which  was  because  "  the  Building 
was  not  immediately  wanted,"  the  Irish  Regiment  for  whom  it  was  designed  as  was 
pretended  Not  being  yet  arrived  —  Perhaps  the  Governor  gives  this  circumstantial 
accotint  to  his  Lordship  to  confirm  what  he  had  before  said,  that  "  Two  Regiments 
were  not  sufficient  to  awe  the  Town  —  This  attack  upon  the  security  of  the  Peoples 
Dwelling -Houses,  was  as  violent  as  has  ever  been  known  even  under  the  most  despotick 
Governments,  tho'  happily  it  proved  unsuccessful.  This  is  one  of  the  bright  glories 
of  Bernards  Administration.  He  who  with  so  much  readiness  &  exact  propriety 
afforded  the  aid  of  his  advice,  and  Prejudged  the  matter,  claims  however  his  share 
in  the  Annals  of  fame. 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1704  TO  1770.  125 

idle  Report  brought  to  him,  and  in  short  acting  the  part  of  a 
Pimp  rather  than  a  Governor.  —  As  these  Letters  being  now 
made  publiok,  will  be  a  Monument  of  disgrace  to  him,  it  cannot 
be  supposed,  that  any  honor  can  be  derived  from  them,  to  those 
great,  Men  to  whom  they  were  addressed,  notwithstanding  the 
Town  have  been  obliged  in  Justice.  Justice  to  themselves ;  to 
say  this  much  in  their  own  vindication,  we  should  be  yet  be 
glad  that  the  ancient  and  happy  union  between  Great  Britain 
and  this  Country,  which  Governor  Bernard  has  so  industriously 
laboured  to  interrupt,  might  be  restored.  Some  have  indeed 
flatter'd  themselves  with  the  prospect  of  it ;  as  intelligence  is 
said  to  have  been  received  from  Administration,  that  all  the 
Revenue  Acts  would  be  repeated:  But  as  it  since  appears  by 
Lord  Hillsburroughs  own  account,  that  nothing  more  is  intended, 
than  the  taking  off  the  dutys  on  Paper,  Glass,  and  Painters 
colours,  upon  commercial  principles  only ;  if  that  is  all  it  will 
not  give  satisfaction  :  It  will  not  even  relieve  the  trade  from 
the  burdens  it  labours  under ;  much  less  will  it  remove  the 
grounds  of  the  discontent,  which  runs  thro'  the  Continent,  upon 
much  higher  principles.  Their  Rights  are  invaded  by  these 
Acts ;  therefore  until  they  are  all  repealed,  the  cause  of  their 
Just  complaints  cannot  be  removed :  In  short  the  Grievances 
which  lie  heavilyupon  us  we  shall  never  think  redressed,  till  every 
Act  passed  by  the  British  Parliament  for  the  express  purpose 
of  raising  a  Revenue  upon  us  without  our  consent  is  repealed ; 
till  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Customs  is 
dissolved ;  the  Troops  recalled,  and  things  restored  to  the  state 
they  were  in  before  the  late  extraordinary  measures  of  Adminis- 
tration took  place. 

Besides  these  Letters  of  Governor  Bernard,  we  find  others 
written  by  General  Gage  and  Commodore  Hood.  And  we  can- 
not but  observe  that  altho'  these  Gentlemen  were  perfect 
Strangers  in  the  Town,  they  have  yet  taken  such  extraordinary 
freedoms,  and  the  General  in  particular  has  wrote  in  such  a 
positive  strain,  as  must  unavoidably  give  high  disgust  to  every 
Reader  of  candor  and  impartiality.  —  If  these  Gentlemen  re- 
ceived the  character  of  the  Town,  or  of  any  of  its  Individuals, 
from  Governor  Bernard  as  we  are  ready  to  think  they  did,  they 
must  have  been  long  before  convinced,  if  they  knew  anything 
at  all  of  the  state  of  the  Town,  that  the  Governor  was  too  deeply 
interested  in  misrepresenting,  to  be  credited  in  a  point  of  that 
importance  ;  and  therefore  common  Justice  would  have  dictated 


126         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

a  suspension  of  their  public  testimony  to  the  prejudice  of  a 
Community,  till  they  could  have  had  the  opportunity  of  doing 
it  upon  impartial  enquiry,  or  their  own  observation  —  The 
General  seems  to  have  early  imbib'd  some  sort  of  prejudice 
against  a  Town,  that  had  been  before  prejudiced  in  his  favor: 
For  the  Governor  in  one  of  his  Letters  to  Lord  Hillsburrough 
acquaints  him,  that  the  General  "  had  sent  Cap*.  Montresor  from 
New  York  to  assist  the  Forces  as  JEnginier,  and  enable  them 
to  recover  and  maintain  the  Castle  and  such  other  Posts  as 
they  could  secure,"  upon  intelligence  that  the  People  in  and 
about  Boston  had  revolted.  Now  even  the  Governor  himself 
declares  this  to  be  a  mistake,  and  says  that  things  were  not 
"  quite  so  bad  as  that  came  to.  "  —  As  there  are  two  constant 
and  regular  Posts  between  this  Town  &  N  York,  each  of  which 
carrys  intelligence  from  the  one  to  the  other  in  the  course  of  a 
week ;  and  more  especially  as  he  might  reasonably  expect 
authentick  accounts  of  a  matter  of  such  importance,  by  express 
in  a  shorter  time  ;  it  is  strange  if  the  Generals  mind  was  un- 
biased, that  he  should  so  stronly  rely  upon  private  advice,  as  to 
form  his  measures  from  them,  which  the  Governor  Asserts  — 
It  was  a  measure  of  importance,  as  it  issued  to  the  Town ;  for 
Coll0.  Dalrymple  who  had  the  Command  of  the  Regiments,  from 
the  authority  of  these  new  orders,  as  the  Governor  declares, 
thought  proper  to  alter  the  plan,  which  was  to  land  only  one,  and 
landed  both  the  Regiments  in  Boston  without  loss  of  time. 
Perhaps  it  was  under  the  impression  of  these  private  advices, 
and  the  Narrative  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Town  Meeting, 
which  the  Governor  also'  mentions  as  influential  on  the  Generals 
measures,  and  which  possibly  was  a  Narrative  of  the  Governors 
own  writing,  that  so  wrought  upon  the  Generals  imagination, 
as  to  induce  him  to  give  his  opinion  to  his  Lordship,  that  the 
"  intentions  of  the  Town  were  suspicious,  and  that  he  was 
happy  the  Troops  from  Hallifax  arrived  at  the  time  they  did  "  ! 
These  and  many  such  like  unprovoked  expressions  are  to  be 
found  in  the  Letters  of  both  of  these  Gentlemen,  and  especially 
the  Generals ;  but  as  they  partake  of  a  full  portion  of  the  spirit 
of  Governor  Bernards  and  as  the  sense  of  this  Province  fully 
appears  in  the  late  spirited  Resolves  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives, we  shall  avoid  troubling  the  Publick  with  particular 
Remarks  upon  them,  and  to  borrow  an  expression  of  great 
authority,  "  treat  them  with  the  contempt  they  deserve 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   17(11  TO  1770.  127 

Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  Hay   15,   1770. 


To    the    ir<>nb,e.  James  Bowdoin  Esq.  &  Thomas    Cushing 
Esq.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  and  the  Honble.  John  Hancock 

Esq- 

Gentlemen 

The  Town  of  Boston  by  their  late  choice  of  you  to  Represent 
them  in  the  ensuing  General  Court,  have  given  strong  proof  of 
their  confidence  in  your  abilities  and  integrity.  For  no  period 
since  the  perilous  times  of  our  venerable  Fathers  has  worn  a 
more  gloomy  and  melancholy  aspect.  Unwarrantable  and  arbi- 
trary exactions  made  upon  the  people  —  trade  expiring,  griev- 
ances murmurs  discontents  convulzing  every  part  of  the  British 
Empire,  forbode  a  day  of  tryal,  in  which  under  God  nothing 
but  strict  virtue  and  inflexible  fortitude  can  save  us,  from  a 
rapacious  and  miserable  distraction.  A  series  of  occurrances, 
many  recent  events,  and  especially  the  late  Journals  Of  the 
House  of  Lords  afford  great  reason  to  believe,  that  a  Deep  laid 
&  desperate  plan  of  Imperial  despotism  has  been  laid,  and  partly 

executed,  for  the  extinction  of  all  civil  liberty ; and  from  a 

gradual  sapping  the  grand  foundation  from  a  subtle  undermining 
the  main  pillars,  breaking  the  strong  bulwarks  destroying  the 
principal  ramparts  and  battlements,  the  august  and  once  revered, 
fortress  of  english  freedom  —  the  admirable  work  of  ages,  — 
the  British  Constitution  seems  fast  tottering  into  fatal  &  in- 
evitable ruin.  The  dreadful  catastrophe  threatens  universal 
havock,  and  presents  an  auful  warning  to  hazard  all  if  peradven- 
ture,  we  in  these  distant  confines  of  the  Earth  may  prevent  being 
totally  overwhelm'd  and  buried  under  the  ruins  of  our  most 
established  rights.  For  many  Years  past  we  have  with  sorrow 
beheld  the  approaching  conflict ;  various  have  been  the  causes, 
which  pressed  on  this  decisive  period,  and  everything  now  con- 
spires to  prompt  a  full  exertion  of  our  utmost  vigilance  wisdom 
and  firmness ;  —  and  as  ye.  exigencies  of  the  times  require,  not 
only  the  refined  abilities  of  true  policy  ;  but  the  more  martial 
virtues  ;  conduct  valor  and  intrepidity ;  So  Gentlemen  in  giving 
you  our  suffrages,  at  this  Election,  we  have  devolved  upon  you 
a  most  important  trust ;  to  discharge  which  we  doubt  not  you 
will  summon  up  the  whole  united  faculties  of  mind  and 
body. 


128    STATE  PAPEKS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN"  MEETING, 

We  decline  Gentlemen  a  minute  detail  of  many  momentous 
concernments,  relative  to  which  it  is  believed  no  Instructions 
need  be  given;  but  we  shall  express  our  thoughts  on  such  mat- 
ters as  we  suppose  you  will  choose  to  have  our  explicit  senti- 
ments.   

A  Grievance  which  will  early  present  itself  in  the  ensuing 
Sessions  (and  to  redress  which  you  are  to  take  all  proper  and 
spirited  methods)  is  that  of  holding  the  Geneeal  Court  at  Har- 
vard College,  not  only  against  antient  usuage  and  established 
law,  but  also  against  the  wellfare  of  that  Seminary  of  learning, 
the  happy  advancement  of  which,  this  Province  ever  had  and 
still  have  so  much  at  heart. 

We  would  have  you  Gentlemen  particularly  Scrutinize  into 
the  wise  and  cautious  transactions  of  our  worthy  Fathers  in 
1721.  They  it  should  be  known,  in  that  year  tho  not  directly 
called  to  weigh  The  high  importance  of  the  question,  yet,  on 
this  very  matter,  behaved  with  a  political  foresight,  and  sega- 
cious  circumspection,  truly  admirable  and  worthy  imitation : 
The  small  pox  then  almost  as  pestilential  as  the  plague,  rendred 
the  Meeting  of  the  General  Court  in  Boston  morally  impossible  ; 
yet  so  convinced  was  the  Governor  of  the  Province  of  his  own 
defect  of  authority  to  remove  the  General  Assembly  out  of 
Town,  that  when  all  the  Members  daring  to  attend  the  Court  in 
that  infectious  season,  were  assembled  in  the  Council  Chamber 
unable  to  make  a  quorum  of  the  lower  House  they  were  expressly 
assured  by  his  Excellency  that  the  proposed  adjourning  into 
the  Country  should  not  be  drawn  into  President.  Accordingly 
a  reliance  doubtless  being  had  on  such  solemn  assurance,  no 
objections  appear  entred  on  record  against  the  Adjournment, 
when  thro'  a  providential  calamity,  a  transaction  of  business  in 
the  proper  place  was  become  really  impracticable.  No  Proverb 
is  more  familiar,  than  that  necessity  knows  no  law  ;  and  the 
Court  no  doubt  on  this  natural  consideration  was  immedi- 
ately adjourned  out  of  this  Town.  Yet  so  universally  sensible 
were  the  people  of  that  duty,  and  especially  the  three  branches 
of  Legislature,  than  an  act  of  the  whole  Court,  even  when  such 
a  fatal  emergency  had  forced  the  Adjournment,  absolutely 
requisite  to  legalize  and  capasitate  for  their  proceedure  to  pub- 
lick  business  :  —  and  accordingly  a  vote  passed  the  honourable 
House  to  that  purpose,  the  same  was  concurred  by  his  Majesty s 
Council,  and  approved  &  formally  assented  to,  by  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief  :  —  all  which  appears  on  the  publick  records 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1770.  129 

of  the  Province.  Now  we  should  be  glad  to  be  informed,  bow 
these  proceedings  in  essence  sense  and  spirit,  differ  from  a  full 
ample  and  final  denunciation  of  the  law  establishing  the  sent,  of 
Government. 

We  are  not  ignorant  that  in  172S/9  a  controversy  was  forced 
on  relative  to  this  point.  This  dispute  had  its  rise,  like  many 
of  more  modern  date,  in  consequence  of  ministerial  Instructions 
which  to  borrow  a  phrase  of  the  then  House  "  are  not  pleasant 
to  mention."  We  are  not  unacquainted  that  his  Majestys 
Attorney  and  Solicitor  General  were  at  this  time  consulted 
relative  to  our  legal  seat  of  Government.  We  also  know  that 
the  then  Governor  (Burnet)  treating  upon  the  same  subject  in- 
formed the  House  of  Representatives,  that  the  King  Determined 
the  point,"  according  to  the  Attorney  General  and  "  Soliciters 
opinion,  that  "  the  sole  poicer  of  dissolving  proroguing  and  ad- 
"  journing  the  General  Court  or  Assembly  as  to  time  or  place 
"  is  in  his  Majestys  Governor,  and  that  the  reasons  against  it 
"  from  the  tenth  of  King  William  had  no  real  foundation ; 
"  there  being  no  clause  in  that  Act  laying  any  such  restraint 
"  upon  the  Governor.'''' 

Here  it  should  be  well  observed  is  not  barely  a  tacit  but  an 
•  express  declaration  that  the  sole  power  of  dissolving  is  "  devolved 
entirely "  upon,  and  exclusively  vested  "  in  the  Governor " 
From  hence  in  our  opinion,  this  consequence  unavoidably 
follows,  that  no  Instructions  orders  or  mandates  whatever 
ought  to  direct  and  control  such  power  soley  in  the  Governor. 
For  it  is  not  merely  absurd  in  theory,  and  most  mis- 
chievous in  practise,  that  an  authority  incapasitated  by  distance 
to  Judge  of  local  and  other  critical  circumstances,  should  have 
a  power  to  fix  such  an  important  movement,  but  moreover  it  is 
palpably  contrarient  to  the  plain  words  of  the  preceeding  deter- 
mination. We  freely  own  it  would  have  given  us  more  satis- 
faction to  have  seen  this  opinion  under  the  hand  of  those 
Lawyers.  But  we  would  here  Gentlemen  direct  you  carefully 
to  notice  and  remember,  that  as  we  always  expect  to  defend 
our  own  rights  &  liberty s  so  we  are  unalterably  fixed  to  Judge 
for  ourselves  of  their  real  existence,  agreeable  to  law.  Yet  as 
we  believe  this  same  opinion  is  far  from  being  well  grounded  so 
we  now  offer  a  few  comments  thereon  ;  for  your  future  considera- 
tion. But  let  it  be  recorded  that  we  enter  upon  this  task,  pro- 
testing against  the  pretended  right  or  power  of  any  Crown 
Lawyer,  or  any    exterior    authority    upon    Earth  to    determine 


130         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

limit  or  assertain  all  or  any  of  our  constitutional  or  charteral, 
natural  or  civil  political  or  sacred  Rights  liberties  and  privileges 
or  immunities.  These  words  there  being  no  clause  in  the  "Act 
of  10th.  of  William  laying  any  such  constraints  upon  the 
Governor"  contained  in  the  afore  cited  opinion  are  we  conclude 
intended  to  convey  that  as  the  Kings  prerogative  to  remove  . 
the  General  Court  at  pleasure  is  not  by  express  words  taken 
away  so  such  a  power  remains  inherent  in  the  Crown.  We  do 
allow  indeed  that  the  Kings  Prerogative  was  once  thought  "  a 
topic  too  delicate  and  sacred  to  be  profaned  by  the  pen  of  a 
Subject,  that  it  was  ranked  among  the  areana  imperrii,  and 
like  the  misteries  of  the  bona  dea  was  not  suffered  to  be  pried 
into  by  any  but  such  as  were  initiated  into  its  Service  :  because 
perhaps  the  exertion  of  the  one,  like  the  solemnities  of  the 
other  would  not  bear  the  inspection  of  a  rational  &  sober 
enquiry  "  We  also  have  heard  that  there  hath  been  a  British 
Potentate  who  "  dared  to  direct  on  English  Parliament  to  ab- 
stain from  discoursing  of  matters  of  state  ;  that  even  that  august 
assembly  ought  not  to  deal  to  Judge  or  to  meddle  with  Majesty s 

Prerogative    Royal " and  James    the    first   with    his  high 

notions  of  the  Divinity  of  regal  sway,  more  than  once  laid  it 
down  in  his  speeches,  that  "  as  it  was  athesm  and  blashemy 
in  a  Creature  to  dispute  what  the  Deity  might  do  so  it  is  pre- 
sumption and  sedition  in  a  subject  to  dispute  what  a  King 
might  do  in  the  height  of  his  powers ;  Good  Christians  he  adds 
will  be  content  with  Gods  will  revealed  in  his  word,  and  good 
Subjects  will  rest  in  the  Kings  will,  revealed  in  his  Law  " 
Surely  when  such  mistical  Jargon,  such  absurd  and  infamous 
rant  was  thus  openly  denounced  in  a  Realm  famed  for  under- 
standing, freedom  and  true  magnanimitie  nothing  except  an 
ineffable  contempt  of  the  reigning  Monarch  diverted  that  indig- 
nant vengeance,  which  would  otherwise  have  made  his  illus- 
trious throne  to  tremble  and  hurl'd  the  Royal  diadem  from  his 
forfeit  head. 

The  Kings  prerogative  in  its  largest  extent  includes  only 
certain  rights  and  privileges  which  by  law  the  King  hath  as  a 
third  power  of  the  Commonwealth  intrusted  with  the  execution 
of  laws  already  in  being.  This  prerogative  our  law  pro- 
nounces to  be  solely  governed  by  the  latcs  of  the  land ;  those 
being  the  measure  as  well  of  the  Kings  power  as  the  Subjects 
obedience.  For  as  the  laws  assert  &  bound  the  Just  rights  of 
the  King ;  so  they  likewise  delare   &  maintain   the   Rights  and 


BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS,   1704  TO  1770.  131 

liberties  of  the  people;  hence  it  is  adjudged  law,  that  all 
prerogatives  must  be  £or  the  advantage  and  good  of  the  people, 
otherwise  such  pretended  prerogatives  are  to  he  allowed  hy  law. 
Even  our  crown  Lawyers  will  inform  us  "  that  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal bulwarks  of  civil  liberty,  or  in  other  words  of  the  British 
constitution  is  the  limitation  of  the  Kings  prerogative  by 
bounds  so  certain  and  notorious,  that  it  is  impossible  he  should 
ever  exceed  them,  without  the  consent  of  the  people  on  the  one 
hand,  or  without  on  the  other  a  violation  of  that  original  con- 
tract, which  in  all  states  implicidly  and  in  ours  most  expressly 
subsists  between  the  Prince  and  the  Subject  —  And  for  a  con- 
sideration of  the  extent  and  the  restrictions  of  the  Kings  pre- 
rogative, this  conclusion  will  evidently  follow  that  the  powers 
which  are  vested  in  the  Crown  by  the  laws  of  England,  are 
necessary  for  the  support  of  society ;  and  do  not  retrench  any 
further  on  our  natural  rights  then  is  expedient  for  the  main- 
tenance of  our  civil.  Sir  Henry  Finch  under  Charles  the  first 
tho'  he  lays  down  the  law  of  prerogative  in  very  strong  and 
emphatical  terms,  yet  qualifies  it  with  a  general  restriction  in 
regard  to  the  liberties  of  the  people  —  The  King  (says  he) 
hath  a  prerogative  in  all  things  that  are  not  injurious  to  the 
Subject,  in  them  all  it  must  be  remembered,  that  the  Kings 
prerogative  stretcheth  not  to  the  doing  of  any  wrong.  And 
finally  the  best  definition  of  the  prerogative,  which  our  law 
books  afford  is  "  that  discretionary  power  of  acting  for  the 
public  good  where  the  positive  laws  are  silent  and  if  this  dis- 
cretionary power  be  abused  to  the  publick  detriment,  such 
prerogative  is  exerted  in  an  unconstitutional  manner. 

We  Gentlemen  have  been  thus  particular  in  our  instructions 
on  this  head,  because  we  apprehend  that  this  point  of  preroga- 
tive thro'  great  inattention  hath  been  much  mistaken  ;  and  also 
because  every  other  matter,  set  forth  in  the  aforesaid  opinion 
of  Mr.  Attorney  and  Soliciter  General  has  been  irrefregably 
confuted  by  diverse  Judicious  replys  of  succeeding  houses  of 
Assembly.  Now  the  clear  law  laid  down  (to  the  spirit  of 
which  we  do  order  you  punctually  to  adhere)  proves  beyond  a 
cavil,  that  if  the  late  removal  of  our  General  Court  was  not 
against  plain  provincial  law,  yet  that  such  removal  is  not  only 
unwarrantable  by  the  principles  of  Crown  Law,  but  is  directly 
repugnant  to  the  fundamental  institutions  even  of  prerogative 
law  —  For  will  any  one  be  so  weak  or  wicked  ;  nay,  will  even 
a  Crown  lawyer  for  his  stipend  or  pension  have  the  front  pub- 


132        STATE  PAPEKS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

licly  to  maintain,  that  the  late  alteration  of  the  seat  of  our 
General  Assembly  is  "  for  the  advantage  and  good  of  the 
people,"  or  "for  the  necessary  support  of  society,"  or  that  this 
assumed  "  prerogative  stretcheth  not  to  any  wrong."  "  Now  if 
all  this  and  much  more,  is  not  maintained,  then  waving  our 
provincial  law  relative  to  the  seat  of  government,  we  with  good 
authority  say,  that  the  holding  the  General  Court,  from  its 
antient  and  proper  station,  is  unwarrantable  unconstitutional 
illegal  and  oppressive.  We  have  given  you  Gentlemen  our  full 
sentiments  touching  this  important  concern,  because  you  ought 
not  to  be  at  any  loss  how  to  conduct  your  self  herein  conform- 
able to  the  Judgment  of  your  Constituents,  —  But  had  we  not 
here  spoken  so  largely  nay  had  the  express  letter  of  the  law 
been  less  favourable,  &  were  it  possible  to  romack  up  any 
absurd  obsolete  notion,  which  might  have  seemed  calculated  to 
propogate  slavish  doctrines,  we  should  by  no  m-eans  have  been 
influenced  to  forego  our  birth  rights.  For  the  prime  and  only 
reason  which  originated  all  laws,  but  more  particularly  and 
expressly  the  prerogative,  was  the  general  emolument  of  the 
state,  and  therefore  when  any  pretended  prerogatives  do  not 
advance  this  grand  purpose,  they  have  no  legal  obligation  ;  and 
when  any  strictly  Just  prerogatives  are  exerted  to  promote  any 
different  design,  they  also  cease  to  be  binding.  Indeed  was  a 
Soliciter  General  of  Majesty  in  an  express  treatise  "  of  the 
Kings  prerogative  will  teach  us "  that  mankind  will  not  be 
reasoned  out  of  the  feelings  of  humanity  nor  will  sacrifice  their 
liberty  by  a  scrupulous   adherence   to   those   political   maxims, 

which  were  originally  established  to  preserve  it. 

The  despicable  situation  of  our  provincial  militia  you  will 
make  the  object  of  your  peculiar  attention  ;  and  as  it  is  appar- 
ent From  what  putred  source,  this  decline  of  military  emulation 
hath  flow'd  we  press,  that  such  animated  steps  may  be  taken  as 
shall  speedily  remove  this  Just  reproach  from  the  land.  — 
When  every  method  is  obstinately  pursued  to  enervate  with 
forreign  luxuries,  every  artifice  practised  to  corrupt,  in  order  to 
inslave,  when  we  are  denyed  a  free  constitutional  exercise  of 
our  rights  as  Men  and  Citizens ;  when  high  handed  invasions 
are  made  on  our  property,  and  audacious  attempts  to  intimidate 
not  only  from  resistance  but  complaint ;  surely  the  constitutional 
watchmen  and  centinels  of  our  liberties  are  asleep  upon  their 
stations,  or  traitors  to  the  main  body,  if  they  do  not  rouse  and 
risque  from  this  insiduous  plot. 


HOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   17G4  TO  177G.  133 

As  a  laudable  and  voluntary  renunciation  «>t"  a  baneful  Com- 
merce lias  naturally  occasioned  a  general  stagnation  of  trade  ; 
and  as  the  true  riches  of  a  people  are  numbers  and  industry  we 
warmly  recommend  to  yon  such  measures  as  will  tend  to 
increase  population,  incourage  industry  and  promote  our  own 
manufactures;  and  as  this  is  a  very  pacifick  political  device 
for  the  defeat  of  our  malicious  foes,  we  presume  it  may  he  less 
obnoxious  to  the  virulent  slander  of  ministerial  dependants  — 
but  these  salutary  methods  of  genuine  policy  ought  never  to 
exclude  or  sitpercede  the  more  open,  manly,  bold  and  pertena- 
cious  exertions  for  our  freedom. 

One  of  the  most  weight  matters,  which  attracts  our  affection, 
and  lies  deep  in  the  heart  of  every  honest  sensible  American,  is 
the  firm  and  lasting  union  of  the  Colonies ;  There  is  no  one 
point  which  ought  more  to  engage  our  affectionate  zeal.  Our 
enemies  well  knowing  the  consequence  of  this  great  acquisition, 
have  bent  their  whole  force  to  render  it  abortive.  Without  the 
least  foundation  Jealousies  have  been  assiduously  infused,  dia- 
bolical falsehood  forged,  idle  tales  propogated,  little  discords 
fomented ;  and  every  engine  that  fraud  could  invent,  and  hardy 
villains  manage,  has  been  set  to  work  in  order  to  retard  if  not 
utterly  overthrow  this  desirable  atainment,  but  all  has  not  done 
it.  The  Eyes  of  our  worthy  Brethren  thro'  the  Continent  are 
open  —  yet  as  we  know  the  plotting  mallice  inveteracy  &  inde- 
fatigueable  labour  of  the  desperately  wicked,  we  strongly 
inculcate  that  you  be  zealous  to  keep  up  a  cordial  intercourse, 
with  our  Sister  Colonies ;  and  as  our  interests  are  so  apparently 
inseparable,  nothing  but  an  intimate  Communion  is  requisite  to 
cement  our  political  and  natural  attachment 

We  have  for  a  long  time  beheld  with  grief  and  astonishment 
the  unwarrantable  practise  of  ministerial  instructions  to  the 
Commanders  in  Chief  of  this  Province  ;  it  is  high  time  Gentle- 
men for  this  matter  to  be  searched  into  and  remidied. 

Such  an  enormous  stretch  of  power,  if  much  longer  un- 
checked, Avill  eventually  annihilate  the  essentials  of  all  civil 
liberty.  It  is  repugnant  to  the  very  first  principle  of  true 
government  (which  was  alone  instituted  for  the  good  of  the 
governed)  that  a  remote  power  not  only  much  disconnected  but 
often  different  in  interests  should  undertake  at  pleasure  to  con- 
troul  any  command  in  affairs  of  the  last  moment  for  the  benefit 
and  relief  of  the  people  —  a  power  3000  transmarine  miles  dis- 
tant, not  only  ignorrnt  of   our  true  welfare,  but  if   perchance 


134        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

discovered  interested  to  oppose  it;  not  only  attempting  to 
oppress,  but  actually  oppressing  —  that  such  a  power  should  be 
allowed,  wontonly  to  proscribe  patricians  &  plebeins,  at  will  to 
fix  the  residence  of  our  parliament ;  to  order  that  parliament 
when  and  how  to  proceed,  and  where  to  retire ;  at  one  time  to 
forbid  the  best  improvement  of  our  own  produce,  at  another 
time  effectually  to  force  us  to  purchase  forreign  merchandize  ; 
and  again  as  it  were  sword  in  hand  to  demand  our  property ; 
and  anon  to  forbid  our  own  disposal  of  a  certain  part  of  it  — 
these  are  doctrines  &  political  solicisms  which  may  take  root 
and  spring  up,  under  the  meridian  of  modei*n  Rome ;  but  we 
trust  in  God  will  not  flourish  in  the  soil  and  climate  of  British 
America.  We  therefore  strictly  charge  you  not  to  grant  any 
supplys  to  the  instruments  of  government  if  through  their 
defect  or  misapplication  the  grand  end  for  which  we  support 
and  pay  our  Rulers  are  not  accomplished.  We  also  recommend 
to  you  carefully  to  enquire  into  the  state  of  criminal  Prosecu- 
tion in  our  executive  courts ;  and  endeavor  to  revive  the  antient 
method  of  appointing  the  Attorney  General,  agreable  to  charter  ; 
for  we  believe  that  such  a  step  will  be  attended  with  very 
salutary  consequences,  in  the  advancement  of  public  Justice, 
the  punishment  of  offenders  and  the  general  good  order  of  the 

Province 

Our  choice  of  you  Gentlemen  to  represent  us  at  this  hazardous 
Juncture  is  a  sufficient  evidence  of  our  great  dependence  on 
your  wise  honest  and  steady  conduct  —  We  therefore 'leave  all 
other  matters  to  your  best  discretion  and  Judgment ;  till  we 
shall  see  fit  to  give  further  instructions  —  We  greatly  confide 
that  you  will  bear  in  strong  remembrance,  the  hardships  and 
sufferings  of  our  pious  fathers,  to  find  out  and  purchase  this 
remote  assylm  from  ecclesiastical  persecution  and  civil  tyranny; 
that  inspired  by  their  glorious  example,  you  will  vigorously 
repel  even  unto  the  uttermost  the  insults  and  violences  of 
internal  and  external  enemies  to  our  peace.  We  remind  you 
that  the  further  Nations  recede  and  give  way  to  the  gigantick 
strides  of  any  powerful  Despot,  the  more  rapidly  will  the  Fiend 
advance  to  spread  wide  desolation ;  and  then  should  an  attempt 
be  made  to  stay  his  ravaging  progress  —  "  the  dogs  of  war  let 
loose  and  hot  for  blood  rush  on  to  waste  and  havock  !  —  Obsta 
principiis  is  the  maxim  to  be  held  in  view.  It  is  now  no  time 
to  halt  between  two  opinions  ;  the  demands  of  fraud,  violence 
and   usurpation    are    unsatiable.     It  is  therefore  no  season  to 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   1764  TO  177G.  135 

stand  listning  to  subtle,  alurements,  deceitful  cajolings,  or 
Eormidable  threatenings.  We  therefore  enjoin  you  at  all 
hazards  to  deport  (as  we  rely  your  own  hearts  will  stimulate) 
like  the  faithful  Representatives  of  a  freeborn,  awakened  and 
determined  people — who  being  impregnated  with  the  spirit  of 
liberty  in  conception,  and  nurtured  in  principles  of  freedom 
from  their  infancy  are  resolved  to  breathe  the  same  celestial 
ether,  till  summoned  to  resign  the  heavenly  flame  by  that 
omnipotent  God  who  gave  it 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  flay  10,   1772. 


To  the  Honble.  Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  The 
Honble.  John  Hancock  Esq.  and  Mr  William  Phillips 

Gentlemen 

The  choice  we  have  made  of  you  to  Represent  us  in  the 
Assembly  of  the  Commons  of  this  Province  at  the  ensuing 
Sessions  of  the  General  Court,  is  the  strongest  Testimony  of 
the  high  Opinion  which  we  entertain  of  your  Abilities  and 
Integrity ;  Nevertheless  we  think  it  our  duty  at  such  a  time  as 
this  when  the  very  Being  of  our  Constitution  is  so  dangerously 
attacked,  to  express  to  you  whom  we  have  deputed  &  impowered 
to  act  for  us,  the  sense  we  have  of  the  Oppressions  which  we 
suffer  —  No  People  were  ever  in  circumstances  more  truly 
alarming  than  those  in  which  the  People  of  this  Province  now 
are.  An  exterior  power  claims  a  Right  to  govern  us,  &  have 
for  a  number  of  years  been  levying  an  illegal  tax  on  us ;  where- 
by we  are  degraded  from  the  rank  of  Free  Subjects  to  the 
despicable  Condition  of  Slaves.  For  its  evident  to  the  meanest 
Understanding  that  Great  Britain  can  have  no  Right  to  take 
our  Moneys  from  us  without  our  consents  unless  we  are  her 
Slaves,  unless  our  Bodys  our  Persons  are  her  property  she 
surely  cannot  have  the  least  claim  to  dispose  of  our  earnings,  & 
tho.  we  have  hitherto  failed  of  success  our  applications  for  the 
redress  of  this  cruil  grieveance  we  are  still  determined  to  exert 
our  utmost  efforts  to  break  up  this  baneful  source  of  Despotism 
&  Misery.  The  attention  of  every  one  who  has  the  least  affec- 
tion for  his  Country  must  be  awakened  to  this  important  Sub- 
ject when  he  sees  the  long  train  of  evils  which  flow  from  it. 
We  are  especially  under  the  most  uneasy  apprehensions  from 


136         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

the  repeated  refusals  of  our  Governor  to  accept  of  an  honour- 
able support  from  the  People  and  we  have  the  highest  reason  to 
believe  that  apart  of  the  very  Money  unjustly  taken  from  us  is 
applyed  to  support  him  in  a  state  of  Independance  upon  the 
People  over  whom  he  presides  —  If  this  is  the  case  our  situation 
is  truly  deplorable.  The  same  oppressions  of  which  we  so  justly 
complain  are  made  the  support  of  the  Man,  who  ought  to  exert 
his  utmost  power  to  obtain  a  redress  of  our  Grievances.  A 
Ruler  Independent  of  the  People  over  whom  over  whom  he  pre- 
sides, is  abhorrent  to  the  Principles  of  a  -Free  Government  — 
Power  without  a  Check  is  Tyranny,  whoever  is  possessed  of 
such  a  power  is  a  Master  instead  of  a  Governor,  and  whoever 
submits  to  such  a  power  is  a  Slave  instead  of  a  Subject.  The 
intention  &  only  reasonable  end  of  Government  is  the  happiness 
of  Mankind ;  and  every  branch  of  a  legal  Government  ought  to 
be  interested  in  the  public  wellfare,  &  should  have  every  possi- 
ble inducement  to  study  &  promote  the  good  &  happiness  of 
the  governed :  But  we  fear  that  the  Interest  of  this  People  and 
of  the  Gentleman  who  presides  over  us,  are  made  as  distinct  & 
even  as  opposite  as  they  possibly  can  be ;  and  if  we  allow  our- 
selves to  form  a  Judgement  from  what  has  taken  place  since  his 
Excellencys  Accession  to  the  Chair,  our  fears  must  be  augmented 
<fc  confirmed  as  the  Administration  of  affairs  has  been  altogether 
such  as  much  necessarily  have  resulted  from  an  opjDosition  of 
interest  and  the  Governors  intire  independancy  on  us  —  We 
shall  mention  to  you  a  few  striking  Instances  of  the  Justice  of 
this  remark.  .We  think  it  impossible  that  our  Governor  should 
be  at  liberty  to  consult  like  the  Father  of  this  People,  their  true 
Interest  whilst  he  considers  himself  bound  to  obey  Instructions 
sent  to  him  from  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  :  For  although 
he  may  know  that  doing  any  particular  Act,  would  be  beneficial 
to  the  People,  &  condusive  to  his  Majestys  service,  yet  if  he  is 
instructed  to  the  contrary  it  must  not  be  done.  But  if  he  is 
Instructed  to  do  an  Act  which  he  knows  will  be  detrimental  to 
the  People  and  injurious  to  his  Majestys  service,  yet  according 
to  this  new  System  he  must  do  it — every  consideration  of  the 
fitness  &  reasonableness  of  the  transaction  is  thrown  aside,  & 
whatever  may  be  the  consequences  to  King  or  People,  the 
Governor  must  exercise  the  power  committed  to  him  not 
agreable  to  his  discretion  and  the  apparent  interest  of  the 
Province  but  according  to  the  Instructions  received  from  a 
Minister  three  thousand  miles  distant  —  Instructions  are  urged 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   lTiil  TO  LT76.  L37 

in  excuse  for  almost  everything  of  which  we  complain.  By  an 
Instruction  our  Legislative  Body  are  restrained  from  Meeting  a1 
their  antient  A:  established  seal,  contrary  to  their  inclination  so 
repeatedly  declared  to  the  Governor.  By  an  Instruct  ion  our 
Fortress  Castle  William  built  and  for  a  long  time  supported  by 
the  Province  for  its  defence  lias  been  delivered  to  Troops  over 
whom  the  Captain  General  of  the  Province  has  declared  he  has 
no  controul ;  and  who  to  appearance  have  taken  more  care  to 
make  it  formadable  to  this  Town,  than  to  a  Forreign  Enemy  — 
Under  the  Influence  of  an  Instruction  the  Governor  has  refused 
his  consent  to  a  tax  Bill  for  defreying  the  necessary  Charges  of 
Government  because  such  Persons  as  the  British  Minister  was 
pleased  to  point  out,  were  not  expressly  exempted  from  bearing 
their  due  proportion  of  said  Tax.  And  what  seems  to  compleat 
our  misfortune  is,  that  an  Instruction  is  pleaded  for  refusing  a 
Grant  for  the  payment  of  our  Agents  at  the  Court  of  Great 
Britain.  Thus  we  are  to  be  cut  off,  even  from  complaint  that 
last  resource  of  the  wretched.  His  Excellency  is  Instructed  not 
to  sign  any  grant  for  the  payment  of  an  Agent,  unless  he  is 
chosen  by  the  three  branches  of  the  Legislature,  he  cannot  con- 
sent to  any  one  who  is  proscribed  in  his  Instructions.  It  is 
against  an  Administration  in  which  Lord  Hillsburrough  &  his 
Dependents  are  principal  Actors  that  we  complain.  But  no  one 
whom  he  disapproves  must  be  allowed  to  manage  our  com- 
plaints. It  is  difficult  to  restrain  our  indignation  at  the  gross 
affront  offered  to  our  Understandings  in  this  affair.  A  Capasity 
but  little  remote  from  Idiotism  is  sufficient  to  discover  the  fatal 

consequences  of  this  Ministerial  plot. 

The  Town  have  in  times  past  declared  to  their  Representa- 
tives their  sense  of  the  burthen  laid  upon  the  Commercial  Inter- 
ests of  the  Community  by  the  extension  of  the  powers  of  the 
Court  of  Admiralty.  A  Jurisdiction  in  its  very  nature  repug- 
nant to  our  Constitution  &  contrary  to  Magna  Charta,  as  it 
invests  one  Judge  appointed  by  the  Crown  with  Authority  to 
determine  concerns  the  most  important  to  the  property  and 
liberty  of  the  Subject  —  And  they  expressed  their  sense  of  this 
Grievance  as  sharpned  by  the  Contrast  which  appears  in  the 
same  Statute  between  the  Mother  Country  &  the  Colonies  — 
For  however  it  may  be  urged  that  the  Court  of  Admirality  is 
established  by  the  Charter  of  this  Province  yet  by .  the  same 
Charter  the  People  of  this  Province  are  entitled  to  all  the 
Liberties  privileges  &   Immunities  of  free  British  Subjects  — 


138         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

And  to  see  the  British  Parliament  by  one  and  the  same  Statute, 
taking  from  the  Colonies  an  important  right  namely  Tuials  by 
Juries  &  securing  that  Right  to  themselves  in  cases  of  the  same 
nature  &  importance  must  be  deeply  affecting  to  us.  We  take 
this  opportunity  of  renewing  our  protestations  against  the 
powers  of  that  Court  which  have  already  proved  so  vexatious  to 
Persons  concerned  in  trade;  and  in  a  very  recent  Instance 
according  to  the  best  information  we  are  able  to  obtain,  have 
been  made  use  of  to  disturb  &  harrass  the  industrious  Farmer, 
&  which  if  not  restrained  bid  fair  to  render  all  property  either 
Real  or  Personal  to  the  last  degree  precarious  —  Thus  Gentle- 
men have  we  exhibited  to  you  a  view  of  many  of  the  Grievances 
which  distress  this  People  :  And  we  expect  you  will  use  your 
utmost  Influence  in  the  ensuing  Session  of  the  General  Court  to 
have  them  radically  redressed;  not  doubting  but  you  will 
receive  the  most  ready  and  effectual  assistance  from  those  wise. 
Patriots  who  are  or  shall  be  chosen  To  Represent  our  Brethren 
in  the  several  Towns  of  this  faithful  Province  —  In  particular 
we  desire  that  you  would  use  your  influence  that  a  Remon- 
strance be  presented  to  his  Majesty  whose  elevated  station 
denominates  him  the  Father  of  his  People,  and  the  tenor  of 
whose  Throne  is  the  protection  of  his  Subjects  against  the 
Oppressions  which  we  suffer  laying  open  to  his  view  in  the 
fullest  and  plainest  manner  the  true  state  of  this  his  Province  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay,  &  pleading  with  him  with  that  freedom 
<fc  firmness  which  the  Justice  of  the  cause  &  the  exigencys  of 
your  Country  demand.  And  that  you  may  not  fail  of  reaching 
the  Royal  Ear,  we  Instruct  you  to  exert  yourselves  to  procure  a 
proper  Grant  from  the  House  of  Representatives  for  the  payment 
of  the  Agents,  who  have  served  the  Honble.  his  Majestys  Council 
&  the  Honble.  House  of  Representatives  for  some  years  past,  & 
that  you  take  timely  care  to  know  whether  the  same  is  concurred 
with  and  consented  to  by  the  other  two  Branches  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. And  that  if  it  is  not,  that  you  endeavor  to  obtain  a 
Resolve  of  the  House  for  a  Brief  for  raising  a  Sum  sufficient  for 
defraying  the  charges  of  an  Agency  for  the  Year  ensuing,  that 
so  we  may  at  least  in  this  way  make  use  of  our  own  Moneys  to 

purchase  an  access  to  the  Ear  of  our  King. ■ 

There  are  Gentlemen  many  other  Matters  of  great  Importance 
to  the  Province  which  will  come  before  you ;  &  we  are  happy 
that  we  can  with  confidence  commit  our  concerns  to  you  Having 
that  by  the  favor  of   Divine   Providence  you  will  be  greatly 


BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS,   1764  TO  1770.  139 

Instrumental  in  restoring  and  securing  both  to  us  &  our  Poster- 
ity our  violated  Rights,  thus  only  may  we  with  reason  expect  to 
enjoy  the  invaluable  Blessings  of  Harmony  &  good  Govern- 
ment   


American  Rights. 


Report  adopted  November  20,  1772. 

First,  a  state  of  the  Rights  of  the  Colonists  and  of  .  .  . 
this  Province  in  particular 

Secondly,  A  List  of  the  Infringements,  and  Violations  of 
those     .     .     .     Rights. 

Thirdly,  A  Letter  of  Correspondence  with  the  .  .  . 
other  Towns. 

1st.     Natural  Rights  of  the  Colonists  as  men. 


Among  the  natural  Rights  of  the  Colonists  are  these  First,  a 
Right  to  Life;  Secondly  to  Liberty ;  thirdly  to  Property ; 
together  with  the  Right  to  support  and  defend  them  in  the  best 
manner  they  can  —  Those  are  evident  Branches  of,  rather  than 
deductions  from  the  Duty  of  Self  Preservation,  commonly 
called  the  first  Law  of  Nature 

All  Men  have  a  Right  to  remain  in  a  State  of  Nature  as  long 
as  they  please  :  And  in  case  of  intollerable  Oppression,  Civil  or 
Religious,  to  leave  the  Society  they  belong  to,  and  enter  into 
another 

When  Men  enter  into  Society,  it  is  by  voluntary  consent; 
and  they  have  a  right  to  demand  and  insist  upon  the  preform- 
ance  of  such  conditions,  And  previous  limitations  as  form  an 
equitable  original  compact. 

Every  natural  Right  not  expressly  given  up  or  from  the 
nature  of  a  Social  Compact  necessarily  ceded  remains. 

All  positive  and  civil  laws,  should  conform  as  far  as  possible, 
to  the  Law  of  natural  reason  and  equity. ■ 

As  neither  reason  requires,  nor  religion  permits  the  contrary, 
every  Man  living  in  or  out  of  a  state  of  civil  society,  has  a  right 
peaceably  and  quietly  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates 
of  his  conscience. 

"  Just  and  true  liberty,  equal  and  impartial  liberty "  in 
matters  spiritual  and  temporal,  is  a  thing  that  all  Men  are 
clearly  entitled  to,  by  the  eternal  and  immutable  laws  Of  God 
and  nature,  as   well    as   by   the   law    of   Nations,    &   all   well 


140         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

grounded  municipal  laws,  which  must  have  their  foundation  in 

the  former. 

In  regard  to  Religion,  mutual  tolleration  in  the  different  pro- 
fessions thereof,  is  what  all  good  and  candid  minds  in  all  ages 
have  ever  practiced ;  and  both  by  precept  and  example  incul 
cated  on  mankind :  And  it  is  now  generally  agreed  among 
christians  that  this  spirit  of  toleration  in  the  fullest  extent  con- 
sistent with  the  being  of  civil  society  "  is  the  chief  character- 
istical  mark  of  the  true  church  "  &  In  so  much  that  Mr.  Lock 
has  asserted,  and  proved  beyond  the  possibility  of  contradiction 
on  any  solid  ground,  that  such  toleration  ought  to  be  extended 
to  all  whose  doctrines  are  not  subversive  of  society.  The  only 
Sects  which  he  thinks  ought  to  be,  and  which  by  all  wise  laws 
are  excluded  from  such  toleration,  are  those  who  teach  Doc- 
trines subversive  of  the  Civil  Government  under  which  they 
live.  The  Roman  Catholicks  or  Papists  are  excluded  by  reason 
of  such  Doctx-ines  as  these  "  that  princes  excommunicated  may  be 
deposed,  and  those  they  call  TIereticks  may  be  destroyed  with- 
out mercy  ;  besides  their  recognizing  the  Pope  in  so  absolute  a 
manner,in  subversion  of  government,  by  introducing  as  far  as 
possible  into  the  states,  under  whose  protection  they  enjoy  life, 
liberty  and  property,  that  solecism  in  politicks,  Imperium  in 
imperio*  leading  directly  to  the  worst  anarchy  and  confusion, 
civil  discord,  war  and  blood  shed 

The  natural  liberty  of  Men  by  entering  into  society  is 
abridg'd  or  restrained  so  far  only  as  is  necessary  for  the 

See  Locks  Letters  on  Toleration 

Great  end  of  Society  the  best  good  of  the  whole 

In  the  state  of  nature,  every  man  is  under  God,  Judge  and 
sole  Judge,  of  his  OAvn  rights  and  the  injuries  done  him :  By 
entering  into  society,  he  agrees  to  an  Arbiter  or  indifferent 
Judge  between  him  and  his  neighbours ;  but  he  no  more 
renounces  his  original  right,  than  by  taking  a  cause  out  of  the 
ordinary  course  of  law,  and  leaving  the  decision  to  Referees  or 
indifferent  Arbitrations.  In  the  last  case  he  must  pay  the 
Referees  for  time  and  trouble  ;  he  should  be  also  willing  to  pay 
his  Just  quota  for  the  support  of  government,  the  law  and  con- 
stitution ;  the  end  of  which  is  to  furnish  indifferent  and 
impartial  Judges  in  all  cases  that  may  happen,  whether  civil 
ecclesiastical,  marine  or  military. 

"  The  natural  liberty  of  man  is  to  be  free  from  any   superior 

*A  Government  within  a  Government 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1704  TO  1776.  141 

power  on  earth,  and  not  to  be  under  the  will  or  legislative 
authority  of  man  ;  but  only  to  have  the  law  of  nature  dor  his 
rule  " 

In  the  state  of  nature  men  may  as  the  Patriarchs  did, 
employ  hired  servants  for  the  defenee  of  their  lives,  liberty  and 
property  :  and  they  should  pay  them  reasonable  wages. 
Government  was  instituted  for  the  purposes  of  common  defence  ; 
and  those  who  hold  the  reins  of  government  have  an  equitable 
natural  right  to  an  honourable  support  from  the  same  principle 
"  that  the  labourer  is  worthy  of  his  hire  "  but  then  the  same 
community  which  they  serve,  ought  to  be  assessors  of  their  pay  : 
Governors  have  no  right  to-  seek  what  they  please  ;  by  this, 
instead  of  being  content  with  the  station  assigned  them,  that  of 
honourable  servants  of  the  society,  they  would  soon  become 
Absolute  masters,  Despots,  and  Tyrants.  Hence  as  a  private 
man  has  a  right  to  say,  what  wages  he  will  give  in  his  private 
affairs,  so  has  a  Community  to  determine  what  they  will  give 
and  grant  of  their  Substance,  for  the  Administration  of  jmblick 
affairs.  And  in  both  cases  more  are  ready  generally  to  offer 
their  Service  at  the  proposed  and  stipulated  price,  then  are  able 
and  willing  to  perform  their  duty. 

In  short  it  is  the  greatest  absurdity  to  suppose  it  in  the 
power  of  one  or  any  number  of  men  at  the  entering  into 
society,  to  renounce  their  essential  natural  rights,  or  the  means 
of  preserving  those  rights  when  the  great  end  of  civil  govern- 
ment from  the  very  nature  of  its  institution  is  for  the  support, 
protection  and  defence  of  those  very  rights :  the  j>rincipal  of 
which  as  is  before  observed,  are  life  liberty  and  property.  If 
men  through  fear,  fraud  or  mistake,  should  in  terms  renounce  & 
give  up  any  essential  natural  right,  the  eternal  law  of  reason 
and  the  great  end  of  society,  would  absolutely  vacate  such 
renunciation ;  the  right  to  freedom  being  the  gift  of  God 
Almighty,  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  Man  to  alienate  this  gift, 
and  voluntarily  become  a  slave 

2d.      The  Rights  of  the  Colonists  as  Christians 

These  may  be    best  understood    by  reading  —  and  carefully 

studying  the  institutes  of  the  great  Lawgiver  and  head  of  the 

Christian  Church :   which  are  to  be  found   closely  written  and 

promulgated  in  the  New  Testament 

By  the  Act  of  the  British  Parliament  commonly  called  the 

Teleration  Act,  every  Subject  in  England  Except  Papists  &c  was 


142         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN"  MEETING, 

restored  to,  and  re-established  in,  his  natural  right  to  worship 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience.  And  by 
the  Charter  of  this  Province  it  is  granted  ordained  and  estab- 
lished that  it  is  declared  as  an  original  right)  that  there  shall  be 
liberty  of  conscience  allowed  in  the  worship  of  God,  to  all 
christians  except  Papists,  inhabiting  or  which  shall  inhabit  or  be 
resident  within  said  Province  or  Teritory.  *Magna  Charta 
itself  is  in  substance  but  a  constrained  Declaration,  or  proclama- 
tion, and  promulgation  in  the  name  of  King,  Lord,  and  Commons 
of  the  sense  the  latter  had  of  their  original  inherent,  indefeazible 
natural  Rights,!  as  also  those  of  free  Citizens  equally  perdurable 
with  the  other.  That  great  author  that  great  jurist,  and  even 
that  Court  writer  Mr.  Justice  Blackstone  holds  that  this  recog- 
nition was  justly  obtained  of  King  John  sword  in  hand :  and 
peradventure  it  must  be  one  day  sword  in  hand  again  rescued 
and  preserved  from  total  destruction  and  oblivion. 

3d.      The  Rights  of  the  Colonists  as  Subjects 

A  Common  Wealth  or  state  is  a  body  politick  or  civil  society 
of  men,  united  together  to  promote  their  mutual  safety  and 
prosperity,  by  means  of  their  union  % 

The  absolute  Mights  of  Englishmen,  and  all  freemen  in  or 
out  of  Civil  society,  are  principally,  personal  security  personal 
liberty  and  private  property. 

All  Persons  born  in  the  British  American  Colonies  are  by  the 
laws  of  God  and  nature,  and  by  the  Common  law  of  England, 
exclusive  of  all  charters  from  the  Grown,  well 

Entitled,  and  by  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament  are  declared 
to  be  entitled  to  all  the  natural  essential,  inherent  &  inseperable 
Rights  Liberties  and  Privileges  of  Subjects  born  in  Great 
Britain,  or  within  the  Realm.  Among  those  Rights  are  the 
following ;  which  no  men  or  body  of  men,  consistently  with 
their  own  rights  as  men  and  citizens  or  members  of  society,  can 
for  themselves  give  up,  or  take  away  from  others 

First,  "  The  first  fundamental  positive  law  of  all  Common- 
wealths or  States,  is  the  establishing  the  legislative  power ; 
as  the  first  fundamental  natural  law  also,  which  is  to  govern 
even  the  legislative  power  itself,  is  the  preservation  of  the 
Society."§ 

*  See  1.    Wm.  and  Mary.    St.  2.    C.  18—  and  Massachusetts  Charter. 
t  Lord  Cokes  Im.  Blackstone,  Commentaries—  Vol.  1st.    Page  122. 

J  See  Lock  and  Vatel 

§  Locke  on  Government.    Sahis  Populi  Suprema  Lex  esto 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1770.  143 

/Secondly,  The  Legislative  lias  no  right  to  absolute  arbitrary 
power  over  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  the  people  :  Nor  can  mortals 
assume  a  prerogative^not  only  too  high  for  men,  but  for  Angels  ; 
and  therefore  reserved  for  the  exercise  of  the  Deity  alone. 

"The  Legislative  cannot  Justly  assume  to  itself  a  power  to 
rule  by  extempore  arbitrary  decrees;  but  it  is  bound  to  see  that 
Justice  is  dispensed,  and  that  the  rights  of  the  subjects  be 
decided,  by  promulgated,  standing  and  known  laAvs,  and  author- 
ized independent  Judges  ;  "  that  is  independent  as  far  as  possible 
of  Prince  or  People.  "  There  shall  be  one  ride  of  Justice  for 
rich  and  poor  ;  for  the  favorite  in  Court,  and  the  Countryman 
at  the  Plough.''''* 

Thirdly,  The  supreme  power  cannot  Justly  take  from  any 
man,  any  part  of  his  property  without  his  consent,  in  person  or 
by  his  Representative. 

These  are  some  of  the  first  principles  of  natural  law  &  Justice, 
and  the  great  Barriers  of  all  free  states,  and  of  the  British 

Constitution  in  particular.  It  is  utterly  irreconcileable  to 
these  principles,  and  to  many  other  fundamental  maxims  of  the 
common  law,  common  sense  and  reason,  that  a  British  house  of 
commons,  should  have  a  right,  at  pleasure,  to  give  and  grant  the 
property  of  the  Colonists.  That  these  Colonists  are  well  entitled 
to  all  the  essential  rights,  liberties  and  privileges  of  men  and 
freemen,  born  in  Britain,  is  manifest,  not  only  from  the  Colony 
charter,  in  general,  but  acts  of  the  British  Parliament.  The 
statute  of  the  13th  of  George  2.  c  7.  naturalizes  even  foreigners 
after  seven  years  residence.  The  words  of  the  Massachusetts 
Charter  are  there,  "  And  further  our  will  and  pleasure  is,  and 
we  do  hereby  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  grant  establish 
and  ordain,  that  all  and  every  of  the  subjects  of  us,  our  heirs 
and  successors,  which  shall  go  to  and  inhabit  within  our  said 
province  or  territory  and  every  of  their  children  which  shall 
happen  to  be  born  there,  or  on  the  seas  in  going  thither,  or 
returning  from  thence  shall  have  and  enjoy,  all  liberties  and 
immunities  of  free  and  natural  subjects  within  any  of  the  domin- 
ions of  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  to  all  intents  constructions 
&  purposes  whatsoever  as  if  they  and  every  of  them  were  born 
within  this  our  Realm  of  England."  Now  what  liberty  can 
there  be,  where  property  is  taken  away  without  consent? 
Can  it  be  said  with  any  colour  of  truth  and  Justice,  that  this 
Continent  of  three  thousand  miles  in  length,  and  of  a  breadth  as 

*  Locke 


144        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

yet  unexplored,  in  which  however,  its  supposed,  there  are  five 
millions  of  people,  has  the  least  voice,  vote  or  influence  in  the 
decisions  of  the  British  Parliament?  Have  they,  all  together, 
any  more  right  or  power  to  return  a  single  number  to  that  house 
of  commons,  who  have  not  inadvertently,  but  deliberately  as- 
sumed a  power  to  dispose  of  their  lives,*  Liberties  and  proper- 
ties, then  to  choose  an 

Emperor  of  China !  Had  the  Colonists  a  right  to  return 
members  to  the  british  parliament,  it  would  only  be  hurtfull ; 
as  from  their  local  situation  and  circumstances  it  is  impossible 
they  should  be  ever  truly  and  properly  represented  there.  The 
inhabitants  of  this  country  in  all  probability  in  a  few  years  will  be 
more  numerous,  than  those  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  together  ; 
yet  it  is  absurdly  expected  by  the  promoters  of  the  present 
measures,  that  these,  with  their  posterity  to  all  generations, 
should  be  easy  while  their  property,  shall  be  disposed  of  by  a 
house  of  commons  at  three  thousand  miles*  distant  from  them  ; 
and  who  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  the  least  care  or  concern 
for  their  real  interest :  Who  have  not  only  no  natural  care  for 
their  interest,  but  must  be  in  effect  bribed  against  it ;  as  every 
burden  they  lay  on  the  colonists  is  so  much  saved  or  gained  to 
themselves.  Hitherto  many  of  the  Colonists  have  been  free 
from  Quit  Rents  ;  but  if  the  breath  of  a  british  house  of  commons 
can  originate  an  act  for  taking  away  all  our  money,  our  lands 
will  go  next  or  be  subject  to  rack  rents  from  haughty  and 
relentless  landlords  who  will  ride  at  ease,  while  we  are  trodden 
in  the  dirt.  The  Colonists  have  been  branded  with  the  odious 
names  of  traitors  and  rebels,  only  for  complaining  of  their 
grievances ;  How  long  such  treatment  will,  or  ought  to  born 
is  submitted. 

A  List  of  Infringements  &  Violations  of  Mights. 
We  cannot  help  thinking,  that  an  enumeration  of  some  of  the 
most  open  infringements  of  our  rights,  will  by  every  candid 
Person  be  Judged  sufficient  to  Justify  whatever  measures  have 
been  already  taken,  or  may  be  thought  proper  to  be  taken, 
in  order  to  obtain  a  redress  of  the  Grievances  under  which  we 
labour.  Among  many  others  we  Humbly  conceive,  that  the  fol- 
lowing will  not  fail  to  excite  the  attention  of  all  who  consider 
themselves  interested  in  the  happiness  and  freedom  of  mankind 
in  general,  and  of  this  continent  and  province  in  particular. 

*  See  the  Act  of  the  last  Session,  relating  to  the  Kings  Dock  Yards 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1776.  145 

1st  The  British  Parliament  have  assumed  the  power  of  legis- 
lation for  Ihe  Colonists  in  all  oases  whatsoever,  without  obtain- 
ing the  consent  of  the  Inhabitants,  which  is  ever  essentially 
necessary  to  the  right  establishment  of  such  a  legislative  — 

2d  They  have  exerted  that  assumed  power,  in  raising  a  Reve- 
nue in  the  Colonies  without  their  consent;  thereby  depriving 
them  of  that  right  which  every  man  has  to  keep  his  own  earn- 
ings in  his  own  hands  until  he  shall  in  person,  or  by  his  Repre- 
sentative, think  fit  to  part  with  the  whole  or  any  portion  of  it. 
This  infringement  is  the  more  extraordinary,  when  we  consider 
the  laudable  care  which  the  British  House  of  Commons  have 
taken  to  reserve  intirely  and  absolutely  to  themselves  the 
powers  of  giving  and  granting  moneys.  They  not  only  insist 
on  originating  every  money  bill  in  their  own  house,  but  will  not 
even  allow  the  House  of  Lords  to  make  an  amendment  in  these 
bills.  So  tenacious  ai-e  they  of  this  privilege,  so  jealous  of  any 
infringement  of  the  sole  &  absolute  right  the  people  have  to 
dispose  of  their  own  money.  And  what  renders  this  infringe- 
ment the  more  grievous  is,  that  what  of  our  earnings  still  re- 
mains in  our  own  hands  is  in  a  great  measure  deprived  of  its 
value,  so  long  as  the  British  Parliament  continue  to  claim  and 
exercise  this  power  of  taxing  us  ;  for  we  cannot  Justly  call  that 
our  property  which  others  may,  when  they  please  take  away 
from  us  against  our  will. 

In  this  respect  we  are  treated  with  less  decency  and  regard 
than  the  Romans  shewed  even  to  the  Provinces  which  They 
had  conquered.  They  only  determined  upon  the  sum  which 
each  should  furnish,  and  left  every  Province  to  raise  it  in  the 
manner  most  easy  and  convenient  to  themselves ■ 

3d  A  number  of  new  Officers,  unknown  in  the  Charter  of 
this  Province,  have  been  appointed  to  superintend  this  Reve- 
nue, whereas  by  our  Charter  the  Great  &  General  Court  or 
Assembly  of  this  Province  has  the  sole  right  of  appointing  all 
civil  officers,  excepting  only  such  officers,  the  election  and  con- 
stitution of  whom  is  in  said  charter  expressly  excepted ;  among 
whom  these  Officers  are  not  included. 

4th  These  Officers  are  by  their  Commission  invested  with 
powers  altogether  unconstitutional,  and  entirely  destructive  to 
that  security  which  we  have  a  right  to  enjoy  ;  and  to  the  last 
degree  dangerous,  not  only  to  our  property  ;  but  to  our  lives  : 
For  the  Commissioners  of  his  Majestys  customs  in  America,  or 
any  three   of  them,  are  by  their  Commission  impowered,  "  by 


146        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

writing  under  their  hands  and  seales  to  constitute  and  appoint 
inferior  Officers  in  all  and  singular  the  Port  within  the  limits  of 
their  commissions  "  Each  of  these  petty  officers  so  made  is  in- 
trusted with  power  more  absolute  and  arbitrary  than  ought  to 
be  lodged  in  the  hands  of  any  man  or  body  of  men  whatsoever  ; 
for  in  the  commission  aforementioned,  his  Majesty  gives  & 
grants  unto  his  said  Commissioners,  or  any  three  of  them,  and 
to  all  and  every  the  Collectors  Deputy  Collectors,  Ministers, 
Servants,  and  all  other  Officers  serving  and  attending  in  all  and 
every  the  Ports  and  other  places  within  the  limits  of  their  Com- 
mission, full  power  and  authority  from  time  to  time,  at  their 
and  any  of  their  wills  and  pleasures,  as  well  By  Night  as  by  day 
to  enter  and  go  on  board  any  Ship,  Boat,  or  other  Vessel,  riding 
lying  or  being  within,  or  coming  into  any  Port,  Harbour,  Creek 
or  Haven,  within  the  limits  of  their' commission  ;  and  also  in  the 
day  time  to  go  into  any  house,  shop,  cellar,  or  any  other  place 
where  any  goods  wares  or  merchandizes  lie  concealed,  or  are 
suspected  to  lie  concealed,  whereof  the  customs  &  other  duties, 
have  not  been,  or  shall  not  be,  duly  paid  and  truly  satisfied, 
answered  or  paid  unto  the  Collectors,  Deputy  Collectors,  Min- 
isters, Servants,  and  other  Officers  respectively,  or  otherwise 
agreed  for ;  and  the  said  house,  shop,  warehouse,  cellar,  and 
other  place  to  search  and  survey,  and  all  and  every  the  boxes, 
trunks,  chests  and  packs  then  and  there  found  to  break 
open." 

Thus  our  houses  and  even  our  bed  chambers  are  exposed  to 
be  ransacked,  our  boxes  chests  &  trunks  broke  open  ravaged 
and  plundered  by  wretches,  whom  no  prudent  man  would  ven- 
ture to  employ  even  as  menial  servants ;  whenever  they  are 
pleased  to  say  they  suspect  there  are  in  the  house  wares  &c  for 
which  the  dutys  have  not  been  paid  Flagrant  instances  of  the 
wanton  exercise  of  this  power,  have  frequently  happened  in  this 
and  other  sea  port  Towns.  By  this  we  are  cut  off  from  that 
domestick  security  which  renders  the  lives  of  the  most  unhappy 
in  some  measure  agreable.  Those  Officers  may  under  colour  of 
law  and  the  cloak  of  a  general  warrant,  break  thro'  the  sacred 
rights  of  the  Z>omicil,  ransack  mens  houses  destroy  their  securi- 
ties, carry  off  their  property,  and  with  little  danger  to  them- 
selves commit  the  most  horred  murders. 

And  we  complain  of  it  as  a  further  grievance,  that  notwith- 
standing by  the  Charter  of  this  Province,  the  Governor  and  the 
Great    and    General    Court  or   Assembly  of    this    Province   or 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1776.  147 

Territory,  Eor  the  time  being  shall  have  lull  power  and  author- 
ity, from  time  to  time,  to  make,  ordain  and  establish  all  manner 
of  wholesome  and  reasonable  laws,  orders,  statutes,  and  ordi- 
nances, directions  and  instructions,  and  that  if  the  same  shall 
not  within  the  term  of  three  years  after  presenting  the  same  to 
his  Majesty  in  privy  council  be  disallowed,  they  shall  be  and 
continue  in  full  force  and  effect,  untill  the  same  shall  be  repealed 
by  the  Great  and  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  :  Yet  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain  have  rendered  or  attempted  to 
render,  null  and  void  a  law  of  this  Province  made  and  passed  in 
the  Reign  of  his  late  Majesty  George  the  first,  intitled  "An  Act 
stating  the  Fees  of  the  Custom-house  Officers  within  this 
Province "  and  by  meer  dint  of  power,  in  violation  of  the 
Charter  aforesaid,  established  other  and  exorbitant  fees,  for  the 
same  Officers  ;  any  law  of  the  Province  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing.   

5th.  Fleets  and  Armies  have  been  introduced  to  support  these 
unconstitutional  Officers  in  collecting  and  managing  this  uncon- 
stitutional Revenue ;  and  troops  have  been  quarter'd  in  this 
Metropolis  for  that  purpose.  Introducing  and  quartering  stand- 
ing Armies  in  a  free  Country  in  times  of  peace  without  the 
consent  of  the  people  either  by  themselves  or  by  their  Repre- 
sentatives, is,  and  always  has  been  deemed  a  violation  of  their 
rights  as  freemen  ;  and  of  the  Charter  or  Compact  made  between 
the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  People  of  this  Province, 
whereby  all  the  rights  of  British  Subjects  are  confirmed  to 
us 

6th.  The  Revenue  arising  from  this  tax  unconstitutionally  laid, 
and  committed  to  the  management  of  persons  arbitrarily  ap- 
pointed and  supported  by  an  armed  force  quartered  in  a  free 
City,  has  been  in  part  applyed  to  the  most  destructive  purposes. 
It  is  absolutely  necessary  in  a  mixt  government  like  that  of  this 
Province,  that  a  due  proportion  or  balance  of  power  should  be 
established  among  the  several  branches  of  legislative.  Our 
Ancestors  received  from  King  William  &  Queen  Mary  a 
Charter  by  which  it  was  understood  by  both  parties  in  the 
contract,  that  such  a  proportion  or  balance  was  fixed;  and 
therefore  every  thing  which  renders  any  one  branch  of  the 
Legislative  more  independent  of  the  other  two  than  it  was 
originally  designed,  is  an  alteration  of  the  constitution  as  settled 
by  the  Charter ;  and  as  it  has  been  untill  the  establishment  of 
this  Revenue,  the  constant  practise  of  the  General  Assembly  to 


148        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

provide  for  the  support  of  Government,  so  it  is  an  essential  part 
of  our  constitution,  as  it  is  a  necessary  means  of  preserving 
an  equilibrium.,  without  which  we  cannot  continue  a  free 
state. 

In  particular  it  has  always  been  held,  that  the  dependence  of 
the  Governor  of  this  Province  upon  the  General  Assembly  for 
his  support,  was  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  this  equilib- 
rium ;  nevertheless  his  Majesty  has  been  pleased  to  apply 
fifteen  hundred  pounds  sterling  annually  out  of  the  American 
revenue,  for  the  support  of  the  Governor  of  this  Province  inde- 
pendent of  the  Assembly,  whereby  the  ancient  connection 
between  him  and  this  people  is  weakened,  the  confidence  in  the 
Governor  lessened  and  the  equilibrium  destroyed,  and  the  con- 
stitution essentially  altered. 

And  we  look  upon  it  highly  probable  from  the  best  intelli- 
gence we  have  been  able  to  obtain,  that  not  only  our  Governor 
and  Lieuvetenant  Governor,  but  the  Judges  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  Judicature,  as  also  the  Kings  Attorney  and  Solicitor 
General  are  to  receive  their  support  from  this  Grievous  tribute. 
This  will  if  accomplished  compleat  our  slavery.  For  if  taxes 
are  raised  from  us  by  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  without 
our  consent,  and  the  men  on  whose  opinions  and  decisions  our 
properties  liberties  and  lives,  in  a  great  measure  depend,  receive 
their  support  from  the  Revenues  arising  from  these  taxes,  we 
cannot,  when  we  think  on  the  depravity  of  mankind,  avoid 
looking  with  horror  on  the  danger  to  which  we  are  exposed  ? 
The  British  Parliament  have  shewn  their  wisdom  in  making  the 
Judges  there  as  independent  as  possible  both  on  the  Prince  and 
People,  both  for  place  and  support :  But  our  Judges  hold  their 
Commissions  only  during  pleasure ;  the  granting  them  salaries 
out  of  this  Revenue  is  rendering  them  independent  on  the 
Crown  for  their  support.  The  King  upon  his  first  accession  to 
the  Throne,  for  giving  the  last  hand  to  the  independency  of  the 
Judges  in  England,  not  only  upon  himself  but  his  Successors  by 
recommending  and  consenting  to  an  act  of  Parliament,  by  which 
the  Judges  are  continued  in  office,  notwithstanding  the  demise 
of  a  King,  which  vacates  all  other  Commissions,  was  applauded 
by  the  whole  Nation.  How  alarming  must  it  then  be  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Province,  to  find  so  wide  a  difference  made 
between  the  Subjects  in  Britain  and  America,  as  the  rendering 
the  Judges  here  altogether  dependent  on  the  Crown  for  their 
support. 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1764  TO  1770.  149 

7U|.  We  find  ourselves  greatly  oppressed  by  Instructions  sent 
to  <>ur  Governor  from  the  Court  of  Great  Britain,  whereby  the 
first  branch  of   our  legislature    is    made    merely  a   ministerial 

engine.  And  the  Province  has  already  felt  such  effects  from 
these  Instructions,  as  We  think  Justly  intitle  us  to  say  that  they 
threaten  an  entire  destruction  of  our  liberties,  and  must  soon,  if 
not  checked,  render  every  branch  of  our  Government  a  useless 
burthen  upon  the  people.  We  shall  point  out  some  of  the 
alarming  effects  of  these  Instructions  which  have  already  taken 
place. 

In  consequence  of  Instructions,  the  Governor  has  called  and 
adjourned  our  General  Assemblies  to  a  place  highly  inconveni- 
ent to  the  Members  and  grately  disadvantageous  to  the  interest 
of  the  Province,  even  against  his  own  declared  intention 

In  consequence  of  Instructions,  the  Assembly  has  been  pro- 
rogued from  time  to  time,  when  the  important  concerns  of  the 
Province  required  their  Meeting 

In  obedience  to  Instructions,  the  General  Assembly  was  Anno 
1768  dissolved  by  Governor  Bernard,  because  they  would  not 
consent  to  rescind  the  resolution  of  a  former  house,  and  thereby 
sacrifise  the  rights  of  their  constituents. 

By  an  Instruction,  the  honourable  his  Majesty  Council  are  for- 
bid to  meet  and  transact  matters  of  publick  concern  as  a  Council 
of  advice  to  the  Governor,  unless  called  by  the  Governor ;  and 
if  they  should  from  a  zealous  regard  to  the  interest  of  the 
Province  so  meet  at  any  time,  the  Governor  is  ordered  to  nega- 
tive them  at  the  next  Election  of  Councellors.  And  although 
by  the  Charter  of  this  Province  the  Great  &  General  Court 
have  full  power  and  authority  to  impose  taxes  upon  the  estates 
and  persons  of  all  and  every  the  proprietors  and  inhabitants  of 
this  Province,  yet  the  Governor  has  been  forbidden  to  give  his 
consent  to  act  imposing  a  tax  for  the  necessary  support  of 
government,  unless  such  persons  as  were  pointed  out  In  the 
said  instruction,  were  exempted  from  paying  their  Just  propor- 
tion of  said  tax 

His  Excellency  has  also  pleaded  Instructions  for  giving  up 
the  provincial  fortress,  Castle  William  into  the  hands  of  troops, 
over  whom  he  had  declared  he  had  no  controul  (and  that  at  a 
time  when  they  were  menaceing  the  Slaughter  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town,  and  our  Streets  were  stained  with  the  blood 
which  they  had  barbariously  shed)  Thus  our  Governor,  appointed 
and  paid  from  Great  Britain  with  money  forced  from  us,  is  made 


150        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

an  instrument  of  totally  preventing  or  at  least  of  rendering, 
every  attempt  of  the  other  two  branches  of  the  Legislative  in 
favor  of  a  distressed  and  wronged  people :  And  least  the  com- 
plaints naturally  occasioned  by  such  oppression  should  excite 
compassion  in  the  Royal  breast,  and  induce  his  Majesty  seriously 
to  set  about  relieving  us  from  the  cruel  bondage  and  insults 
which  we  his  loyal  Subjects  have  so  long  suffered,  the  Governor 
is  forbidden  to  consent  to  the  payment  of  an  Agent  to  represent 
our  grievances  at  the  Court  of  Great  Britain,  unless  he  the 
Governor  consent  to  his  election,  and  we  very  well  knew  what 
the  man  must  be  to  whose  appointment  a  Governor  in  such  cir- 
cumstances will  consent 

While  we  are  mentioning  the  infringement  of  the  rights  of 
this  Colony  in  particular  by  means  of  Instructions,  we  cannot 
help  calling  to  remembrance  the  late  unexampled  suspension  of 
the  legislative  of  a  Sister  Colony,  New  York  by  force  of  an 
Instruction,  untill  they  should  comply  with  an  Arbitrary  Act  of 
the  British  Parliament  for  quartering  troops,  designed  by  mili- 
tary execution,  to  enforce  the  raising  of  a  tribute. 

8th.  The  extending  the  power  of  the  Courts  of  Vice  Admiral- 
ity  to  so  enormous  a  degree  as  deprives  the  people  in  the 
Colonies  in  a  great  measure  of  their  inestimable  right  to  tryals 
by  Juries  :  which  has  ever  been  Justly  considered  as  the  grand 
Bulwark  and  security  of  English  property. 

This  alone  is  sufficient  to  rouse  our  jealously.  And  we  are 
again  obliged  to  take  notice  of  the  remarkable  contrast,  which 
the  British  Parliament  have  been  pleased  to  exhibit  between 
the  Subjects  in  Great  Britain  &  the  Colonies.  In  the  same 
Statute,  by  which  they  give  up  to  the  decision  of  one  dependent 
interested  Judge  of  Admirality  the  estates  and  properties  of  the 
Colonists,  they  expressly  guard  the  estates  &  properties  of  the 
people  of  Great  Britain ;  for  all  forfeitures  &  penalties  inflicted 
by  the  Statute  of  George  the  Third,  or  any  other  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment relative  to  the  trade  of  the  Colonies,  may  be  sued  for  in  any 
Court  of  Admiralty  in  the  Colonies  ;  but  all  penalties  and  forfeit- 
ures which  shall  be  incurred  in  great  Britain,  may  be  sued  for  in 
any  of  his  Majestys  Courts  of  Record  in  Westminster  or  in  the 
Court  of  Exchequer  in  Scotland,  respectively.  Thus  our  Birth 
Rights  are  taken  from  us ;  and  that  too  with  every  mark  of 
indignity,  insult  and  contempt.  We  may  be  harrassed  and 
dragged  from  one  part  of  the  Continent  to  the  other  (which  some 
of  our  Brethen  here  and  in  the  Country  Towns  already  have  been) 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   L764  TO  1776.  L5] 

and  finally  be  deprived  of  our  whole  property,  by  the  arbitrary 
determination  of  one  biassed,  capricious  Judge  of  the  Admiral- 
ty.   

9th.  The  restraining  us  from  erecting  Stilling  Mills  for  manu- 
facturing our  Iron  the  natural  produce  of  this  Country,  Is  an 
infringement  of  that  right  with  which  God  and  nature  have  in- 
vested us,  to  make  use  of  our  skill  and  industry  in  procuring 
the  necessaries  and  conveniences  of  life.  And  we  look  upon 
the  restraint  laid  upon  the  manufacure  and  transportation  of 
Ilatts  to  be  altogether  unreasonable  and  grievous.  Although 
by  the  Charter  all  Havens  Rivers,  Ports,  Waters  &c.  are  ex- 
pressly granted  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Province  and  their  Suc- 
cessors, to  their  only  proper  use  and  behoof  forever,  yet  the 
British  Parliament  passed  an  Act,  wherby  they  restrain  us  from 
carrying  our  Wool,  the  produce  of  our  own  farms,  even  over  a 
ferry ;  whereby  the  inhabitants  have  often  been  put  to  the  ex- 
pence  of  carrying  a  Bag  of  Wool  near  an  hundred  miles  by 
land,  when  passing  over  a  River  or  Water  of  one  quarter  of  a 
mile,  of  which  the  Province  are  the  absolute  Proprietors, 
would  have  prevented  all  that  trouble. 

10lh.  The  Act  passed  in  the  last  Session  of  the  British  Par- 
liament, intitled,  An  Act  for  the  better  preserving  his  Afajes- 
tys  Dock  Yards,  Magizines,  Shijjs,  Ammunition  and  Stores, 
is,  as  we  apprehend  a  violent  infringement  of  our  Rights.  By 
this  Act  any  one  of  us  may  be  taken  from  his  Family,  and 
carried  to  any  part  of  Great  Britain,  there  to  be  tried  whenever 
it  shall  be  pretended  that  he  has  been  concerned  in  burning  or 
otherwise  destroying  any  Boat  or  Vessel,  or  any  Materials  for 
building  &c.  any  Navalor  Victualling  Store  &c  belonging  to 
his  Majesty.  For  by  this  Act  all  Persons  in  the  Realm,  or  in 
any  of  the  places  thereto  belonging  (under  which  denomination 
we  know  the  Colonies  are  meant  to  be  included)  may  be  indicted 
and  tryed  either  in  any  County  or  Shire  within  this  Realm,  in 
like  manner  and  form  as  if  the  offence  had  been  committed  in 
said  County,  as  his  Majesty  and  his  Successors  may  deem  Most 
expedient.  Thus  we  are  not  only  deprived  of  our  grand  right 
to  tryal  by  our  Peers  in  the  Vicinity,  but  any  Person  sus- 
pected, or  pretended  to  be  suspected,  may  be  hurried  to  Great 
Britain,  to  take  his  tryal  in  any  County  the  King  or  his  Suc- 
cessors shall  please  to  direct ;  where,  innocent  or  guilty  he  is  in 
great  danger  of  being  condemned ;  and  whether  condemned  or 
acquitted  he  will  probably   be  ruined  by  the  expense  attending 


152    STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

the  tryal,  and  his  long  absence  from  his  Family  and  business; 
and  we  have  the  strongest  reason  to  apprehend  that  we  shall 
soon  experience  the  fatal  effects  of  this  Act,  as  about  the  year 
1769  the  British  Parliament  passed  Resolves  for  taking  up  a 
number  of  Persons  in  the  Colonies  and  carrying  them  to  Great 
Britain  for  tryal,  pretending  that  they  were  authorised  so  to  do, 
by  a  Statute  passed  in  the  Reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  in  which 
they  say  the  Colonies  were  included,  although  the  Act  was 
passed  long  before  any  Colonies  were  settled,  or  ever  in  con- 
templation.   

11th.  As  our  Ancestors  came  over  to  this  Country  that  they 
might  not  only  enjoy  their  civil  but  their  religious  rights,  and 
particularly  desired  to  be  free  from  the  Prelates,  who  in  those 
times  cruilly  persecuted  all  who  differed  in  sentiment  from  the 
established  Church,  we  cannot  see  without  concern  the  various 
attempts,  which  have  been  made  and  are  now  making,  to  estab- 
lish an  American  Episcopate.  Our  Episcopal  Brethren  of  the 
Colonies  do  enjoy,  and  rightfully  ought  ever  to  enjoy,  the  free 
exercise  of  their  religeon,  we  cannot  help  fearing  that  they  who 
are  so  warmly  contending  for  such  an  establishment,  have  views 
altogether  inconsistent  with  the  universal  and  peaceful  enjoy- 
ment of  our  christian  privileges  :  And  doing  or  attempting  to 
do  any  thing  which  has  even  the  remotest  tendency  to  endanger 
this  enjoyment,  is  Justly  looked  upon  a  great  grievance,  and 
also  an  infringement  of  our  Rights,  which  is  not  barely  to  ex- 
ercise, but  peaceably  &  securely  to  enjoy,  that  liberty  wherewith 
Christ  has  made  us  free. 

And  we  are  further  of  Opinion,  that  no  power  on  Earth  can 
justly  give  either  temporal  or  spiritual  Jurisdiction  within  this 
Province,  except  the  Great  &  General  Court.  We  think  there- 
fore that  every  design  for  establishing  the  Jurisdiction  of  a 
Bishop  in  this  Province,  is  a  design  both  against  our  Civil  and 
Religeous  rights  :  And  we  are  well  informed,  that  the  more  can- 
did and  Judicious  of  our  Brethren  of  the  Church  of  England  in 
this  and  the  other  Colonies,  both  Clergy  and  Laity,  conceive  of 
the  establishing  an  American  Episcopate  both  unnecessary  and 
unreasonable. 

12th  Another  Grievance  under  which  we  labour  is  the  fre- 
quent alteration  of  the  bounds  of  the  Colonies  by  decisions 
before  the  King  and  Council,  explanatory  of  former  grants  and 
Charters.  This  not  only  subjects  Men  to  live  under  a  constitu- 
tion to  which  they  have  net  consented,  which  in  itself  is  a  great 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   [104  TO   1116.  153 

Grievance;  but  moreover  under  color,  that  trie  right  of  Soil 
is  affected  by  such  declarations,  .gome  Governors,  or  Ministers, 
or  both  in  conjunction,  have  pretended  to  Grant  in  consequence 
of  a  Mandamus  many  thousands  of  Acres  of  Lands  appropriated 
near  a  Century  past ;  and  rendered  valuable  by  the  labours  of 
the  present  Cultivators  and  their  Ancestors.  There  arc  very 
notable  instances  of  Setlers,  who  having-  first  purchased  the  Soil 
of  the  Natives,  have  at  considerable  expence  obtained  conferma- 
tion  of  title  from  this  Province  ;  and  on  being  transferred  to 
the  Jurisdiction  of  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  have  been 
put  to  the  trouble  and  cost  of  a  new  Grant  or  confermation  from 
thence  ;  and  after  all  this  there  lias  been  a  third  declaration  of 
Royal  Will,  that  they  should  thence  forth  be  considered  as  per- 
taining To  the  Province  of  New  York.  The  troubles,  expenses 
and  dangers  which  hundreds  have  been  put  to  on  such  occa- 
sions, cannot  here  be  recited ;  but  so  much  may  be  said,  that 
they  have  been  most  cruelly  harrassed,  and  even  threatned 
with  a  military  force,  to  dragoon  them  into  a  compliance,  with 
the  most  unreasonable  demands. 


A  Letter  of  Correspondence  to  the  Other  Towns. 


Boston  November  20  :  1772 
Gentlemen  We  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
Boston  in  Town  Meeting  duly  Assembled,  according  to  Law, 
apprehending  there  is  abundant  to  be  alarmed  at  the  plan  of 
Despotism,  which  the  enemies  of  our  invaluable  rights  have 
concerted,  is  rapidly  hastening  to  a  completion,  can  no  longer 
conceal  our  impatience  under  a  constant,  unremitted,  uniform 
aim  to  enslave  us,  or  confide  in  an  Administration  which 
threatens  us  with  certain  and  inevitable  destruction.  But,  when 
in  addition  to  the  repeated  inroads  made  upon  the  Rights  and 
Liberties  of  the  Colonists,  and  of  those  in  this  Province  in  par- 
ticular, we  reflect  on  the  late  extraordinary  measure  in  affixing 
stipends  or  Salaries  from  the  Crown  to  the  Offices  of  the  Judges 
of  the  Superior  Coui't  of  Judicature,  making  them  not  only 
intirely  independent  of  the  people,  whose  lives  and  properties 
are  so  much  in  their  power,  but  absolutely  dependent  on  the 
Crown  (which  may  hereafter,  be  worn  by  a  Tyrant)  both  for 
their  appointment  and  support,   we   cannot  but  be  extremely 


154        STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

alarmed  at  the  mischievous  tendency  of  this  innovation  ;  which 
in  our  opinion  is  directly  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  British 
Constitution,  pregnant  with  inmnnerable  evils,  and  hath  a  direct 
tendency  To  deprive  us  of  every  thing  valuable  as  Men,  as 
Christians  and  as  Subjects,  entitled,  by  the  Royal  Charter,  to 
all  the  Rights,  liberties  and  privileges  of  native  Britons.  Such 
being  the  critical  state  of  this  Province,  we  think  it  our  duty  on 
this  truly  distressing  occasion,  to  ask  you,  What  can  withstand 
the  Attacks  of  mere  power  ?  What  can  preserve  the  liberties 
of  the  Subject,  when  the  Barriers  of  the  Constitution  are  taken 
away  ?  The  Town  of  Boston  consulting  on  the  matter  above 
mentioned,  thought  proper  to  make  application  to  the  Governor 
by  a  Committee  ;  requesting  his  Excellency  to  communicate 
such  intelligence  as  he  might  have  received  relative  to  the 
report  of  the  Judges  having  their  support  independent  of  the 
grants  of  this  Province  a  Copy  of  which  you  have  herewith  in 
Paper  N.  1.  To  which  we  received  as  answer  the  Paper  N.  2. 
The  Town  on  further  deliberation,  thought  it  advisable  to  refer 
the  matter  to  the  Great  and  General  Assenibty  ;  and  accordingly 
in  a  second  address  as  N.  3  they  requested  his  Excellency  that 
the  General  Court  might  Convene  at  the  time  to  which  they 
then  stood  prorogued  ;  to  which  the  Town  received  the  reply  as 
N.  4.  in  which  we  are  acquainted  with  his  intentions  further  to 
j)rorogue  the  General  Assembly,  which  has  since  taken  place. 
Thus  Gentlemen  it  is  evident  his  Excellency  declines  giving  the 
least  satisfaction  as  to  the  matter  in  request.  The  affair  being 
of  publick  concernment,  the  Town  of  Boston  thought  it  neces- 
sary to  consult  with  their  Brethren  throughout  the  Province  ; 
and  for  this  purpose  appointed  a  Committee,  to  communicate 
with  our  fellow  Sufferers,  respecting  this  recent  instance  of  op- 
pression, as  well  as  the  many  other  violations  of  our  Rights 
under  which  we  have  groaned  for  several  Years  past  —  This 
Committee  have  briefly  Recapitulated  the  sens  we  have  of  our 
invaluable  Rights  as  Men,  as  Christians,  and  as  Subjects ;  and 
wherein  we  conceive  those  Rights  to  have  been  violated,  which 
we  are  desirous  may  be  laid  before  your  Town,  that  the  subject 
may  be  weighed  as  its  importance  requires,  and  the  collected 
wisdom  of  the  whole  People,  as  far  as  possible,  be  obtained,  on 
a  deliberation  of  such  great  and  lasting  moment  as  to  involve 
in  it  the  fate  of  all  our  Posterity  —  Great  pains  has  been  taken 
to  perswade  the  British  Administration  to  think  that  the  good 
People  of  this  Province  in  general  are  quiet  and  undisturbed  at 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  17G4  TO  1770.  155 

the  late  measures;  and  that  any  uneasiness  that  appears,  arises 
from  a  few  factious  designing  and  disaffected  men.  This  ren- 
ders it  the  more  necessary,  that  the  sense  of  the  People  should 
be  explicitly  declared.  —  A  Tree  communication  of  your  senti- 
ments to  this  Town,  of  our  common  danger,  is  earnestly  solicited 
and  will  be  gratefully  received.  If  yon  concur  with  us  in 
opinion,  that  our  Rights  are  properly  stated,  and  that  the  seve- 
ral Acts  of  Parliament,  and  Measures  of  Administration,  pointed 
out  by  us  are  subversive  of  these  Eights,  you  will  doubtless 
think  it  of  the  utmost  importance  that  we  stand  firm  as  one 
man,  to  recover  and  support  them ;  and  to  take  such  measures 
by  directing  our  Representatives,  or  otherwise,  as  your  wisdom 
and  fortitude  shall  dictate,  to  rescue  from  impending  ruin  our 
happy  and  glorious  constitution.  But  if  it  should  be  the  general 
voice  of  this  Province,  that  the  Rights  as  we  have  stated  them, 
do  not  belong  to  us  ;  or  that  the  several  measures  of  Adminis- 
tration in  the  British  Court,  are  no  violations  of  these  Rights, 
or  that  if  they  are  thus  violated  or  infringed,  they  are  not  worth 
contending  for,  or  resolutely  maintaining;  —  should  this  be  the 
general  voice  of  the  Province,  we  must  be  resigned  to  our 
wretched  fate  ;  but  shall  forever  lament  the  extinction  of  that 
generous  ardor  for  Civil  and  Religeous  liberty,  which  in  the 
face  of  every  danger,  and  even  death  itself,  induced  our  fathers 
to  forsake  the  bosom  of  their  Native  Country,  and  begin  a  set- 
tlement on  bare  Creation  —  But  we  trust  this  cannot  be  the 
case  :  We  are  sure  your  wisdom,  your  regard  to  yourselves  and 
the  rising  Generation,  cannot  suffer  you  to  dose,  or  set  supinely 
indifferent  on  the  brink  of  destruction,  while  the  Iron  hand  of 
oppression  is  dayly  tearing  the  choicest  Fruit  from  the  fair  Tree 
of  Liberty,  planted  by  our  worthy  Predecessors,  at  the  expence 
of  their  treasure,  &  abundantly  water'd  with  their  blood  —  It 
is  an  obversation  of  an  eminent  Patriot,  that  a  People  long  in- 
ured to  hardships,  loose  by  degrees  the  very  notions  of  liberty ; 
they  look  upon  themselves  as  Creatures  at  mercy,  and  that  all 
impositions  laid  on  by  superior  hands,  are  legal  and  obligatory. 
—  But  thank  Heaven  this  is  not  yet  verified  in  America  !  We 
have  yet  some  share  of  publick  virtue  remaining :  we  are  not 
afraid  of  poverty,  but  disdain  slavery.  —  The  fate  of  Nations  is 
so  Precarious  and  resolutions  in  States  so  often  take  place  at  an 
unexpected  moment,  when  the  hand  of  power  by  fraud  or  flat- 
tery, has  secured  every  Avenue  of  retreat,  and  the  minds  of  the 
Subject   debased   to    its    purpose,  that   it   becomes  every    will 


156        STATE  PAPEES  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

wisher  to  his  Country,  while  it  has  any  remains  of  freedom,  to 
keep  an  Eagle  Eye  upon  every  inovation  and  stretch  of  power, 
in  those  that  have  the  rule  over  us.  A  recent  instance  of  this 
we  have  in  the  late  Revolutions  in  Sweden,  by  which  the  Prince 
once  subject  to  the  laws  of  the  State,  has  been  able  of  a  sudden 
to  declare  himself  an  absolute  Monarch  The  Sweeds  were  once 
a  free,  martial  and  valiant  people  :  Their  minds  are  now  so  de- 
baced,  that  they  rejoice  at  being  subject  to  the  caprice  and 
arbitrary  power  of  a  Tyrant  &  kiss  their  Chains.  It  makes  us 
shudder  to  think,  the  late  measures  of  Administration  may  be 
productive  of  the  like  Catastrophe ;  which  Heaven  forbid !  — 
Let  us  consider  Brethren,  when  we  are  struggling  for  our  best 
Birth  Rights  &  Inheritance  ;  which  being  infringed,  renders  all 
our  blessings  precarious  in  their  enjoyments,  and  consequently 
triming  in  their  value.  Let  us  disappoint  the  Men  who  are 
raising  themselves  on  the  ruin  of  this  Country.  Let  us  convince 
every  Invader  of  our  freedom,  that  we  will  be  as  free  as  the 
Constitution  our  Fathers  recognized,  will  Justify. 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  flay  5,    1773. 


To  the  Honble.  Thomas  Gushing  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams 
Honble.  John  Hancock  Esq.  William  Phillips  Esq.  Represen- 
tatives for  the  Town  of  Boston 

Gentlemen 

By  the  renewed  Suffrages  of  your  Brethen  of  this 
Town,  you  are  once  more  called  upon  to  Represent  them  in  the 
General  Assembly:  The  unanimity  so  conspicuous  in  your  Elec- 
tion at  this  important  Juncture  affords  the  strongest  Testimony  of 
the  confidence  the  Peoj^le  repose  in  your  approved  Abilities,  and 
inflexible  Attachment  to  their  Constitutional  Rights. 

Your  Constituents  have  beheld  with  indignation  that  proposed 
neglect  and  insolent  contempt  with  which  the  Representative 
Body  of  this  People  have  been  regarded  by  Administration.  A 
total  inattention  to  the  privileges  of  the  Commons  in  America 
has  disgraced  almost  every  transaction,  that  materially  effected 
the  Colonies  :  A  clandestine,  capricious  and  distinctive  mode  of 
Government,  couch'd  under  the  specious  umbrage  of  Instruc- 
tions from  Majesty,  has  been  uniformly  adoj^ted  and  wantonly 
exercised  for  several  Years  past, thereby  rendering  the  Assemblys 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   1704  To  1770.  157 

of  Commons  throughout  the  Colonies  mere  Cyphers  in  the  Con- 
stitution :  For  this  reason  Gentlemen,  we  were  almost  discour- 
aged from  renewing  the  choice  of  Members,  as  inffectual  for 

the  several  purposes  for  which  they  were  originally  ordain' 'd / 
but  still  retaining  respect,  to  that  good  and  orderly  Government, 
which  lias  ever  distinguished  this  Metroplis ;  agreeable  to  the 
Charter,  which  on  our  parts  remains  inviolate,  we  once  more 
recommend  the  important  concerns  of  this  aggrieved  People,  to 
your  vigilance,  wisdom  and  integrity  ;  in  confidence  that  you 
will  regard  with  Jealousy,  your  oto?i  constitutional  power  &  im- 
portance of  which  the  honor  and  wellfar'e  of  this  People,  should 
render  you  extremely  tenacious  ;  that  you  will  vigorously 
oppose  any  incroachments  on  your  ancient  privileges  and  never 
will  betray  your  Constituents,  by  surrendering  those  powers  of 
framing  Laws  &  Taxes  for  the  People  to  any  Usurper  under 
Heaven 

The  Constitutional  mode  by  which  Legislation  &  Taxation 
are  conducted  in  Great  Britain,  being  nothing  more  or  less  than 
the  exercise  of  the  power  of  the  People  by  their  Representa- 
tives :  This  form  of  Government  is  extended  by  sacred  compact 
to  the  English  Dominions  in  America,  therefore  the  Privileges 
and  Powers  of  the  Commons  of  this  Colony  respecting  Legisla- 
tion and  Taxation  are  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  full  express 
and  uncontroulable  within  the  Colony  as  those  usually  exer- 
cised by  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain  within  the  Realm  and 
alike  subjected  To  the  Revision  of  the  King  :  These  Powers 
and  Privileges  were  secured  to  our  Ancestors,  by  solem 
Covenant  between  them,  and  the  King  of  England,  and  perpet- 
uated by  their  Charter  to  their  latest  Posterity  :  From  the  free 
and  full  enjoyment  of  these  original  Rights  of  English  Subjects, 
we  are  determined  never  to  recede  ;  and  altho'  they  have  been 
repeatedly  and  daringly  invaded,  the  hand  of  Oppression  shall 
never  induce  us  to  relinquish  our  title  to  freedom  :  We  still  per- 
ceive with  indignation  that  the  Governmental  powers  of  Legis- 
lation &  Taxation  by  Arbitrary  claim  are  assumed,  and  vigor- 
ously exercised  by  those  who  by  their  local  situation  can  have 
no  adequate  knowledge  of  our  circumstances,  no  kindred  feel- 
ings in  our  distresses,  and  when  swayed  by  a  corrupt  influence, 
may  impoverish  weaken  and  inslave  us 

To  the  numberless  grievances  flowing  from  this  iniquitous 
source,  which  we  have  already  frequently  and  fruitlessly  com- 
plained of,  we  may  Justly  add  a  stipendary  Soldierly  stationed 


158         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

and  continued  in  the  chief  Fortress  in  the  Metropolis  of  this 
Colonie  by  the  inexorable  Enemies  to  our  free  Constitution  : 
Standing  Armies  have  forever  made  Shipwreck  of  Free  States 
and  no  People  Jealous  of  their  liberties  ever  patiently  suffered 
Mercenary  Troops  to  be  quarter' d  &  maintained  within  their 
Populous  Cities ;  the  Militia  of  the  Colony  are  its  natural  and 
best  defence ;  and  it  is  an  approved  maxim  in  all  well  policed 
States,  that  the  Sword  should  never  be  intrusted  but  to  those 
who  combat  pro  arts  et  facts  ;  and  whose  interest  it  is  to  pre- 
serve the  publick  peace.  We  cannot  therefore  but  resent  those 
Standing  Troops  within  our  Capital  Cities,  as  the  appointed 
Executioners  of  Tyranny,  and  prepared  Instruments  to  massacre 
the  defenceless  Citizens,  at  the  nod  of  any  Master  who  May 
have  Authority  to  appoint  or  discharge,  reward  or  punish 
them 

Thus  armed  with  Brutal  force  the  Enemies  of  our  freedom 
persevere  with  alacrity,  to  compleat  their  infernal  plan  of  en- 
slaving America ;  the  above  atrocious  violations  of  Right, 
Justice  and  the  Constitution  are  succeeded  by  the  pensioning 
our  Governor  the  Justices  of  the  Superior  Court  &°.  which  in 
effect  is  bribing  them  on  the  side  of  Despotism  :  Those  who  by 
their  several  Offices  should  be  the  Asylum  of  publick  security 
&  liberty,  are  no  longer  the  objects  of  confidence  and  regard 
with  the  People  :  we  cannot  but  esteem  them  as  subordinate 
Tyrants  intrusted  with  a  Rod  to  scourge  us,  and  suppress  that 
spirit  of  freedom  which  is  the  glorious  characteristic  of 
America.  While  they  are  thus  purchased  with  ample  Salaries 
extorted  from  the  Colonies  by  Great  Britain,  we  must  be  Jeal- 
ous of  a  corrupt  influence,  when  ever  an  Arbitrary  measure  of 
Government  is  to  be  carried,  or  a  Claim  of  Right  subjected  to 
the  Division  of  our  Courts  of  Justice 

We  shall  not  recapitulate  the  black  Catalogue  of  abuses 
which  the  Colonies  have  been  subjected  to  for  several  years 
past ;  that  we  have  suffered  them  so  long  is  disgraceful  to  us  : 
But  we  cannot  pass  over  in  silence  the  late  extraordinary  and 
formidable  innovation  in  constituting  an  Arbitrary  Court  of  In- 
quisition, which  has  lately  assumed  Jurisdiction  within  our 
Sister  Colony  of  Rhode  Island,  in  direct  violation  of  all  law 
and  Justice ;  who  arrogate  the  enormous  power  to  transport 
supposed  Offenders  to  a  remote  Kingdom,  to  be  capitally 
arranged  for  offences  committed  within  that  Colony.  Agre- 
able   to   the   Constitution   of  the   Colonies,   said   Court   in    the 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,   iTiil  TO  1770.  L59 

exercise  of  such  extravagant  powers,  are  to  be  held  in  the  same 
contempt  and  detestation,  with  a  Banditti  of  Slave  Makers  on 
the  Coast  of  Affrica.  We  therefore  expect  you  make  due  en- 
quiry into  a  Measure  so  truly  alarming  &  proles):  against  every 
exertion   of    lawless   power,  which    threatens    the    ruin    of  the 

Colonies 

Harrassed  and  provoked  by  such  repeated  abuses  of  power, 
we  esteem  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  demand  redress:  to  your 
Wisdom  and  your  fortitude  we  commit  ourselves  not  doubting 
you  will  readily  pursue  such  measures  as  have  a  tendency  to  re- 
lieve us  in  the  most  easy  and  effectual  manner  ;  for  this  pur- 
pose we  recommend  to  your  most  serious  consideration  whether 
an  application  to  the  English  Colonies  on  this  Continent  corres- 
pondent to  the  plan  proposed  by  our  noble  patrioticJc  Sister 
Colony  of  Virginia  (which  in  our  opinion  is  a  wise  and  salu- 
tary proposal)  will  not  secure  our  threatned  liberties,  and  re- 
store that  mutual  harmony  and  confidence  between  the  British 
Nation  &  the  English  Colonies,  so  important  to  both  especially 
the  former,  which  if  rescinded  from  her  Connections  with  this 
Continent,  must  naturally  fall  a  prey  to  her  numerous  &  Jealous 
Neighbours.  We  have  likewise  the  most  sanguine  expectations 
that  a  Union  of  Councils  and  Conduct  among  the  Colonies 
will  assuredly  by  the  smiles  of  Heaven  fix  our  Rights  on  such  a 
solid  basis,  as  may  intimidate  our  implacable  Enemies  from  any 
further  attempts  to  invade  them 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  September  22,  1774. 


To  the  Honble.  Thomas  dishing  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  The 
Honble.  John  Hancock  Esq.  William  Phillips  Esq. 
Gentlemen, 

As  we  have  now  chosen  you  to  represent  us  in  the 
Great  &  General  Court,  to  be  holden  at  Salem,  on  Wednesday, 
the  5th.  Day  of  October  next  ensuing,  we  do  hereby  instruct 
you,  that  in  all  your  Doings,  as  Members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  you  adhere  firmly  to  the  Charter  of  this 
Province,  granted  by  their  Majesties  King  William  &  Queen 
Mary,  &  that  you  do  no  act  .  .  .  which  can  possibly  be 
construed  into  an  Acknowlegment  of  the  Act  of  the  British 
Parliament,    for    altering    the    Government    of    Massachusetts' 


160         STATE  PAPERS  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING, 

Bay  ;  more  especially  that  you  acknowlege  the  HonWe.  Board 
of  Counsellors,  elected  by  the  General  Court  at  their  Ses- 
sions in  May  last,  as  the  only  rightful  &  constitutional 
Council  of  this  Province.  — -  And,  as  we  have  Reason  to  believe 
that  a  Conscientous  Discharge  of  your  Duty  will  produce  your 
Dissolution,  as  an  House  of  Representatives  —  We  do  hereby 
impower  &  intrust  you  to  join  with  the  Members,  who  may  be 
sent  from  this  &  the  Neighbouring  Towns  in  the  Province,  &  to 
meet  with  them  on  a  time  to  be  agreed  on,  in  a  General 
Provincial  Congress,  to  act  upon  such  matters,  as  may  come 
before  you,  in  such  a  manner,  as  shall  appear  to  you  most  con- 
ducive to  the  true  Interest  of  this  Town  &  Province,  &  most 
likely  to  preserve  the  Liberties  of  all  America 


Instructions  to  the  Representatives,  May  30,   1776. 


Gentlemen, 

At  a  time  when,  in  all  Probability,  the  whole  United  Colonies 
of  America  are  upon  the  Verge  of  a  glorious  Revolution,  & 
when,  consequently,  the  most  important  Questions  that  ever 
were  agitated  by  the  Representative  Body  of  this  Colony, 
touching  its  internal  Police,  will  demand  your  Attention ; 
your  Constituents  think  it  necessary  to  instruct  you,  in  several 
Matters,  what  Part  to  act,  that  the  path  of  your  Duty  may  be 
plain  before  you. 

We  have  seen  the  humble  Petitions  of  these  Colonies  to  the 
lying  of  Great  Britain  repeatedly  rejected  with  Disdain.  For 
the  Prayer  of  Peace  he  has  tendered  the  Sword;  —  for  Liberty, 
Chains  ;  —  for  Safety,  Death  !  He  has  licenced  the  Instruments 
of  his  hostile  Oppressions  to  rob  us  of  our  Property,  to  burn 
our  Houses,  &  to  spill  our  Blood  —  He  has  invited  every 
barbarous  Nation,  whom  he  could  hope  to  influence,  to  assist 
him  in  prosecuting  those  inhumane  Purposes,  The  Prince, 
therefore,  in  Support  of  whose  Crown  &  Dignity,  not  many 
years  since,  we  would  most  chearfully  have  expended  both  Life 
&  Fortune,  we  are  now  constrained  to  consider  as  the  worst  of 
Tyrants  :     Loyalty  to  him  is  now  Treason  to  our  Country  : 

We  have  seen  his  venal  Parliament  so  basely  prostituted  to 
his  Designs,  that  they  have  not  hesitated  to  enforce  his  arbitrary 
Requisitions  with  the  most  sanguinary  Laws.  —  We  have  seen 


BOSTON,  MASSACHUSETTS,  1704  TO  1770.  161 

the  People  of  Great  Britain  so  lost  to  every  Sense  of  Virtue  & 
Honor,  as  to  pass  over  the  most  pathetic  &  earnest,  Appeals  to 
their  Justice  with  an  unfeeling  [ndifference.  The  Hopes  we 
placed  on  their  Exertions  have  long  since  failed.  —  Tn  short,  we 
are  convinced,  that  it  is  the  fixt  &  settled  Determination  of  the 
King,  Ministry,  and  Parliament  of  that  Island  to  conquer  & 
subjugate  the  Colonies,  &  that  the  People  there  have  no  Dis- 
position to  oppose  them  —  A  Reconciliation  with  them  appears 
to  ns  to  he  as  dangerous  as  it  is  absurd  — ■  A  Spirit  of  Resent- 
ment once  raised<  it  is  not  easy  to  appease  :  The  Recollection 
of  past  Injuries  will  perpetually  keep  alive  the  Flame  of  Jeal- 
ousy, which  will  stimulate  to  new  Impositions  on  the  One  Side, 
&  consequent  Resistance  on  the  other;  &  the  whole  Body 
politic  will  be  constantly  subject  to  civil  Fermentations  &  Com- 
motions.— ^e  therefore  think  it  absolutely  impracticable  for 
these  Colonies  to  be  ever  again  subject  to,  or  dependent  upon 
Great  Britian,  without  endangering  the  very  Existence  of  the 
State  :  Placing  however,  unbounded  Confidence  in  the  Supreme 
Council  of  the  Congress,  we  are  determined  to  wait,  most 
patiently  to  wait,  'till  their  Wisdom  shall  dictate  the  Necessity 
of  making  a  Declaration  of  Independency  —  Nor  should  we 
have  ventured  to  express  our  Sentiments  upon  this  Subject,  but 
from  the  Presumption,  that  the  Congress  would  ehuse  to  feel 
themselves  supported  by  the  People  of  each  Colony,  before  they 
should  adopt  a  Resolution  so  interesting  to  the  whole.  —  The 
Inhabitants  of  this  Town  therefore,  unanimously  instruct  & 
direct  you,  that,  at  the  Approaching  Session  of  the  General 
Assembly,  you  use  your  Endeavors,  that  the  Delegates  of  this 
Colony,  at  the  Congress,  be  advised^  that  in  Case  the  Congress 
should  think  it  necessary  for  the  Safety  of  the  United  Colonies, 
to  declare  themselves  independent  on  Great  Britian,  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  this  Colonly,  with  their  Lives  &  the  Remnant  of  their 

Fortunes,  will  most  chearf  ully  support  them  in  the  measure. 

Touching  the  internal  Police  of  this  Colony,  it  is  essentially 
necessary,  in  Order  to  preserve  Harmony  among  ourselves,  that 
the  constituent  Body  be  satisfied,  that  they  are  fully  and  fairly 
represented  —  The  Right  to  legislate  is  originally  in  every 
Member  of  the  Comunity ;  which  Right  is  always  exercised  of 
a  State  :  But  when  the  Inhabitants  are  become  numerous,  'tis 
not  only  inconvenient,  but  impracticable  for  all  to  meet  in  One 
Assembly ;  &  hence  arose  the  Necessity  &  Practice  of  legislat- 
ing by  a  few,  freely  chosen  by  the  many.  —  When  this  Choice 


162    STATE  PAPEES  ADOPTED  IN  TOWN  MEETING. 

is  free,  &  the  Representation,  equal,  'tis  the  People's  Fault  if 
they  are  not  happy :  We  therefore  entreat  you  to  devise  some 
Means  to  obtain  an  equal  Representation  of  the  People  of  this 
Colony  in  the  Legislature.  But  care  should  he  taken,  that  the 
Assembly  be  not  unweildy  ;  for  this  would  be  an  Approach  to 
the  Evil  meant  to  be  cured  by  Representation.  The  largest 
Bodies  of  Men  do  not  always  dispatch  Business  with  the  great- 
est Expedition,  nor  conduct  it  in  the  wisest  manner 

It  is  essential  to  Liberty  that  the  legislative,  judicial  &  execu- 
tive Powers  of  Government  be,  as  nearly  as  possible,  inde- 
pendent of  &  separate  from  each  other  ;  for  where  they  are 
united  in  the  same  Persons,  there  will  be  wanting  that  natural 
Check,  which  is  the  principal  Security  against  the  enacting  of 
arbitrary  Laws,  and  a  wanton  Exercise  of  Power  in  the  Execu- 
tion of  them.  —  It  is  also  of  the  highest  Importance  that  every 
Person  in  a  Judiciary  Department,  employ  the  greatest  Part  of 
his  Time  &  Attention  in  the  Duties  of  his  Office.  —  We  there- 
fore farther  instruct  you,  to  procure  the  making  such  Law  or 
Laws,  as  shall  make  it  incompatible  for  the  same  Person  to  hold 
a  Seat  in  the  legislative  &  executive  Departments  of  Govern- 
ment, at  one  &  the  same  time  :  —  That  shall  render  the  Judges 
in  every  Judicatory  thro'  the  Colony,  dependent,  not  on  the 
uncertain  Tenure  of  Caprice  or  Pleasure,  but  on  an  unimpeach- 
able Deportment  in  the  important  Duties  of  their  Station,  for 
their  Continuance  in  Office  :  And  to  prevent  the  Multiplicity 
of  Offices  in  the  same  Person,  that  such  Salaries  be  settled  upon 
them,  as  Will  place  them  above  the  Necessity  of  stooping  to  any 
indirect  or  collateral  Means  for  Subsistence. 

We  wish  to  avoid  a  Profusion  of  the  public  Monies  on  the 
one  hand,  &  the  Danger  of  sacrificing  our  Liberties,  to  a  Spirit 
of  Parsimony  on  the  other.-  —  Not  doubting  of  your  Zeal  & 
Abilities  in  the  common  Cause  of  our  Country,  we  leave  your 
Discretion  to  prompt  such  Exertions,  in  promoting  any  military 
Operations,  as  the  Exigency  of  our  public  Affairs  may  require  : 
And  in  the  same  Confidence  in  your  Fervor  &  Attachment  to 
the  public  Weal,  we  readily  submit  all  other  Matters  of  public 
Moment,  that  may  require  your  Consideration  to  your  own 
Wisdom  &  Discretion. 


FINISH. 


S<*~'' 


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